The Lamar Jackson saga took another turn on Monday as the 26-year-old quarterback publicly requested a trade from the Baltimore Ravens.
Jackson, who is entering his sixth season in the league, received a nonexclusive franchise tag from Baltimore earlier this offseason after the two sides couldn’t come to an agreement on a long-term deal. However, it seems Jackson now wants out sooner rather than later.
The news comes amid speculation that the Indianapolis Colts could be gearing up to make a move for Jackson after the draft, but apparently, they aren’t the only team that may be in the mix.
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft told the media that rapper Meek Mill texted him (?) to indicate that Jackson wants to be acquired by the Patriots.
Robert Kraft says Meek Mill texted him 3-4 days ago that Lamar Jackson wants to be a Patriot. Kraft said “That’s Bill’s decision.”
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) March 27, 2023
Though it’s probably wise to take this with a grain of salt, Kraft certainly didn’t refute the idea of bringing in Jackson. He did, however, say a decision on the matter would ultimately fall upon head coach Bill Belichick, who also holds roster management duties for New England.
Still, this doesn’t necessarily bode well for presumed incumbent quarterback Mac Jones, who was selected 15th overall in 2021. After a fairly promising rookie campaign, Jones struggled quite a bit in Year 2 and was benched at one point for rookie Bailey Zappe, who is also on the roster entering 2023.
Regardless of how the Patriots feel about Jones’ development, Jackson would present a clear upgrade. But bringing him to Foxborough also wouldn’t come cheap.
With Jackson under a nonexclusive tag, any team is permitted to sign him to an offer sheet, which the Ravens would then have five days to match. If they don’t, the team that signed him would have to send Baltimore first-round picks in 2023 and 2024.
However, the Ravens could also negotiate different compensation, meaning a team like New England could potentially land Jackson without surrendering two firsts.
We may only be at the beginning of the odyssey surrounding Jackson, and if we already have rappers brokering trade deals, things could be about to get even more interesting.
