Lamar Jackson was shocked, to say the least.
It had been over a month since the 2022 NFL draft, during which the 2019 NFL Most Valuable Player watched the Ravens trade top wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown to Arizona and show up just minutes later at the Cardinals’ draft party. The two had entered the NFL just a year apart and become close friends, only for Brown to become frustrated with his role in the offense and quietly ask for a trade.
The second-year receiver had worked out with Brown over the summer and didn’t know he wanted to leave. He’d only find out later. For Jackson, Brown’s departure meant the loss of a trusted target. For Bateman, it meant opportunity.
