Lamar Jackson, the Baltimore Ravens’ star quarterback, could soon find himself playing for a new team. After Jackson demanded a trade on March 2, the Ravens marked him with a non-exclusive franchise tag, which would bring in two first-round draft picks as compensation should he be traded. The Indianapolis Colts quickly emerged as a potential trade partner, but owner Jim Irsay lamented the high price tag of draft picks. Could the Minnesota Vikings or Tennessee Titans step up to the plate?
Jackson Defends Injury History Amid Trade Rumors and Contract Negotiations
As rumors about his potential departure swirl, Lamar Jackson has been speaking out about his injury history and absence during the Ravens’ playoff game against the Bengals. He revealed that his PCL was 100% torn and that he preferred not to play rather than put his teammates in a bad situation. His PCL then became inflated after traveling to the Pittsburgh game, leading to his decision to stay for faster recovery. Despite denials that he sat out of negotiations, Jackson clarified that he had a serious knee injury.
The Ravens started backup Tyler Huntley in their playoff game against the Bengals while Jackson continued to recover from his sprained knee suffered in Week 13. Jackson believed that if he were healthy enough to play, the outcome would have been different.
However, one reason why there have been no successful trade negotiations yet for Jackson could be some teams’ concerns about his perceived durability. Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank brought this concern up at NFL owners meetings in Phoenix recently. Furthermore, only the Colts have left open the door for a potential move for Jackson – likely because owner Jim Irsay is wary of fully guaranteed contracts.
Could Vikings or Titans Be Potential Trade Destinations?
Despite these concerns and hurdles, there are still teams interested in acquiring Lamar Jackson via trade. The most likely candidates seem to be the Minnesota Vikings and Tennessee Titans, according to oddsmakers.
The Vikings are in second place to acquire Jackson after Bookies recently updated their odds. However, there are significant hurdles that would need to be overcome for this trade to happen. Minnesota’s current QB1 Kirk Cousins would have to be moved first, and the team has very little money available according to the salary cap.
Alternatively, it’s possible that the Titans could make a move for Jackson. They have a better shot than Minnesota currently, according to oddsmakers. However, there would still be some obstacles to overcome, including convincing Cousins and offering up draft picks as compensation.
Jackson’s 2019 MVP Award and Non-Exclusive Franchise Tag
Despite these obstacles, one factor making Lamar Jackson an attractive prospect for any team is his history of success on the field. Although he has been injured in back-to-back seasons, Jackson won the NFL MVP award in 2019. This accolade is likely contributing to interest from teams like Minnesota and Tennessee.
However, even if one of these teams were willing to pay the non-exclusive franchise tag price of two first-round draft picks for Jackson, the Ravens would still have the right to match any offer he receives from another team.
Conclusion
As deals continue to be negotiated and rumors fly around Lamar Jackson’s potential departure from Baltimore, all eyes will be on the Vikings and Titans as potential trade partners. For now, fans will simply have to wait and see how things play out in this high-stakes guessing game.
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