With the 2023 NFL Draft in Kansas City, Missouri approaching, teams are wrapping up their offseason moves. However, one player who future is still uncertain in Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Jackson has been dominating the NFL news cycle all offseason as he and Ravens general manager, Eric DeCosta, have not be able to agree on a long-term deal. New information released by Jackson on Twitter added an extra wrinkle to the saga.
On March 27, Jackson released a Tweet from his personal account that read, “As of March 2nd I requested a trade from the Ravens organization for which the Ravens has not been interested in meeting my value.”
This information dropped at the same time Ravens head coach John Harbaugh sat down to talk with the press at the annual NFL owners meeting. The Baltimore Ravens posted the full presser on their website in which coach Harbaugh deflects speculation that the timing was anything but coincidental.
“I don’t think he pays attention to that stuff,” said John Harbaugh when asked if he thought Lamar intentionally scheduled his tweet to coincide with the coach’s press meeting.
Throughout the course of the press conference coach Harbaugh staunchly defended Jackson and reiterated that the Ravens plan to have Lamar as their starting quarterback. in 2023.
Harbaugh said, “Lamar’s handled it with class.” When asked if the relationship is still intact between Lamar and the Ravens Harbaugh responded, “Oh yeah, absolutely.”
Spotrac.com estimates Jackson’s market value at just over $40 million dollars. If Jackson were to sign the non-exclusive franchise tag that the Ravens placed on him in early March, then Jackson would be set to make around $32 million. However, if the Ravens bumped it up to the exclusive franchise tag, Jackson would earn about $45 million.
Furthermore, if the Ravens and Lamar are able to come to a long-term deal, it would be beneficial for both sides as it would clear up some cap space for the 2023 season.
While contract negotiations have stalled to the point where Jackson has formally requested a trade, and even made it public, there are still no signs that Jackson is going anywhere just yet.
Other teams have been asked about potentially having Lamar Jackson as their quarterback, but nobody has come right out and said they would love to have Jackon as their quarterback. According to yahoonews, the Jets, Lions, Commanders, and Falcons are all reportedly out of the race for Jackson.