The ongoing Lamar Jackson contract stalemate with the Baltimore Ravens has hung over the conversation about the quarterback class in the 2023 NFL draft, but in a distant view. Jackson moved the conversation to the front burner of the hot stove with a series of Twitter posts on Monday morning.
Jackson revealed he formally requested a trade from the Ravens over three weeks ago, on March 2nd. The two sides have been unable to come together on a contract for the one-time MVP quarterback.
To this point, the Ravens have not indicated they are interested in trading Jackson, the 2019 NFL MVP in just his second season with Baltimore. If Ravens GM Eric DeCosta does decide to put Jackson on the trade block, it would have significant ramifications on the first round of the 2023 NFL draft and the quarterback class.
It’s easy to see a QB-needy team giving up a first-round pick and other assets to acquire a proven NFL star like Jackson rather than take a chance on one of the first-round quarterbacks in this draft class. Meeting Jackson’s contractual demands is a complicating factor that clouds just how much the Ravens could command in return for the 26-year-old Pro Bowler.
