NFL Trade Rumors: Shock NFC team named ideal destination for Lamar Jackson
The likelihood that Lamar Jackson will not be the Baltimore Ravens quarterback in the future has never been higher. With the team placing the franchise tag on him, it doesn't look as likely that they'll be able to come to a long-term agreement.
This means that other teams who otherwise wouldn't have even bothered might be looking into Jackson's situation now. He's more available than ever before.
One NFL analyst believes a shocking team could be interested in Jackson. For the Minnesota Vikings, this might be too good of an opportunity to pass up:
ESPN's Bill Barnwell said:
“The Vikings have an uncertain future at quarterback. Kirk Cousins is 34 and hasn’t exhibited the sort of ceiling teams want from their veteran signal-callers. Minnesota has contorted its cap for years to pay Cousins, something general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah had no choice but to continue after joining the team a year ago."
He continued:
“If the Vikings can avoid one more restructure this offseason, though, Cousins will be a free agent after the 2023 campaign, leaving them with a completely blank slate under center. Adofo-Mensah and coach Kevin O’Connell could draft a quarterback in April, but Jackson would be a more exciting transition plan out of the Cousins era.”
Kirk Cousins has guided the Vikings pretty well in the last few seasons, but he's not Lamar Jackson. Cousins doesn't have a bright future like Jackson does and Barnwell is right that transitioning from Cousins to Jackson would be exciting.
Is Baltimore going to retain Lamar Jackson?
The Baltimore Ravens barely seem interested in keeping Lamar Jackson. Obviously, they want to retain the former MVP winner, but they've barely exerted any effort towards that goal.
They haven't been willing to give him even close to what he wants or probably deserves and they've placed the franchise tag on him, something they know he's not likely to sign.
This seems to be building towards an eventual divorce, though the Ravens can match whatever offer he gets, so a disgruntled Jackson may end up back in Baltimore when it's all said and done.