With Lamar Jackson’s future with the Ravens still at a crossroads, the club is reportedly planning to factor in the uncertainty surrounding the star quarterback while evaluating possible selections for the 2023 NFL draft later this month.
During a Friday appearance on Get Up, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported the Ravens are in “full contingency mode at quarterback” and have their eye on the draft with Jackson still without an extension, or a finalized agreement on his non-exclusive franchise tag. Fowler noted that the lingering ordeal could influence Baltimore, a team with five ’23 draft picks–including No. 22 overall–to potentially select a QB in this year’s draft after already missing out on veteran free agents such as Baker Mayfield (Buccaneers) and Jacoby Brissett (Commanders).
“Now, I’m talking to several teams as they prep for the draft who say Baltimore is looking at pretty much the full spectrum of quarterbacks in this draft to potentially take one,” Fowler said.
After noting the relationship between the two parties has been “tenuous, at best” as of late, Fowler noted Baltimore drafting a rookie signal-caller may also serve as a backup plan if Jackson’s situation remains unresolved. “That threat is real,” he added regarding the possibility of Jackson not signing the franchise tag any time soon, if at all.
Friday’s report aligns with intriguing comments made by Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta on Wednesday after he was asked about Jackson at the club’s NFL draft luncheon. When asked if the team is approaching the draft differently given the 26-year-old’s circumstances, Decosta said the team is trying to “build a board around the best player available,” but also admitted that taking a QB in Round 1 wasn’t off the table.
“I’d say there’s probably more than 4 guys that can be significant quarterbacks in this league [in the draft]. … I’d have to say yes because we have QBs in our Top 31,” DeCosta said, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.
