Where is Lamar Jackson going? Top 3 teams that should bet the house on Ravens QB
Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens have been negotiating a long-term contract extension for more than a year now. They have been unable to agree on the details, putting his future with the franchise in jeopardy. He played out the 2022 NFL season in the final year of his rookie deal and is now pending free agency during the 2023 offseason.
It appears unlikely that the two sides will agree on a new contract prior to the upcoming deadline for all teams to use their franchise tag. Many reports indicate that the Ravens are most likely to place their tag on Lamar Jackson to avoid allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent this year.
In a thread posted to Twitter on March 27, Lamar Jackson clarified that he had to make a 'business decision,' reiterating that he had already placed a trade request to the Ravens on March 2.
win the super bowl. You all are great but I had to make a business decision that was best for my family and I. No matter how far I go or where my career takes me, I’ll continue to be close to my fans of Baltimore Flock nation and the entire State of Maryland. You’ll See me again
If the Ravens do in fact place their franchise tag on Lamar Jackson, that doesn't necessarily mean that he will remain with the team for the upcoming 2023 NFL season. Some superstars have refused to play on the tag. The most recent example is Davante Adams, who was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders last year after refusing to play on the Green Bay Packers franchise tag.
Unless Lamar Jackson receives the long-term contract he's looking for, he will remain a legitimate trade candidate during the 2023 NFL offseason. If the Ravens field offers for their superstar quarterback, these three teams should go all-in to attempt to acquire him.
#1 New York Jets
The New York Jets have made it clear that they are pursuing a veteran quarterback to replace Zach Wilson for the upcoming 2023 NFL season. They believe that their roster is good enough to be legitimate Super Bowl contenders if they find a major upgrade in their quarterback position.
The Jets have been involved in many rumors involving most of the top options this year. With Derek Carr signing with the New Orleans Saints and Aaron Rodgers' future a mystery, they need to expand their search. A case can be made that Lamar Jackson is the best quarterback right now who could possibly be on the move.
#2 Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders took a step back during the 2022 NFL season. They made an appearance in the NFL Playoffs the previous season, prompting them to make huge upgrades in the offseason and go all-in to compete for a Super Bowl. It didn't work out that way, as they finished with an extremely disappointing 6-11 record.
The disastrous showing resulted in the Raiders moving on from Derek Carr during the 2023 NFL offseason. While the rest of their roster appears ready to compete for a ring this year, they are in desperate need of a quarterback. Adding Lamar Jackson will put them among the favorites to win it all in 2023 as one of the most complete overall teams.
#3 New York Giants
Daniel Jones put together the best season of his career in 2022, especially as a rusher. The fact that the New York Giants signed Brian Daboll as their head coach last year is one of the reasons why. He previously worked with Josh Allen as the offensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills, proving he is a specialist at finding rushing production from quarterbacks.
Potentially pairing Lamar Jackson with Brian Daboll could be the perfect match. Lamar Jackson is already one of the greatest rushing quarterbacks in NFL history, so the possibilities would be endless with Daboll. The Giants are also yet to secure Daniel Jones a long-term contract, so they could be in the quarterback market this year as well.