The Baltimore Ravens are heading towards a bitter breakup with their superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson after he requested a trade.
OWINGS MILLS, MD– On March 7th, the Ravens placed their non-exclusive franchise tag tender on superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson. On March 27th, he requested a trade. It’s a stunning but predictable development in the Lamar Jackson saga that has drug on for well over a year.
The former NFL MVP has been the bright spot of the Baltimore Ravens but the team and the player have struggled to reach terms on a long term contract, with the Ravens instead opting to push forward with Jackson underneath a franchise tag– a pyrrhic victory at best for the team who has made a concerted effort to build a team around Jackson.
The quarterback made his announcement on Twitter, where he announced he made his decision to request a trade much earlier than when the news broke, even before the team placed him under a tag– all the way back on March 2nd. Since then, no team has publicly matched the Ravens’ offer– a deal worth $32.416 million if Jackson plays out the 2023 season.
While the two sides have generally agreed on a salary figure, Jackson reportedly has wanted a contract with most, if not all his money guaranteed, a notion which the Ravens have balked on under general manager Eric DeCosta. The rationale being that Jackson– as a running quarterback and previous injuries is seen as a liability to drain a team financially, especially with a potential for a shorter NFL lifespan than most quarterbacks.
“A letter to my Fans,” Jackson wrote on Twitter. “I want to first thank you all for all of the love and support you consistently show towards me. All of you are amazing and I appreciate y’all so much. I want you all to know not to believe everything you read about me.”
“Let me personally answer your questions in regards to my future plans. As of March 2nd I requested a trade from the Ravens organization for which the Ravens has not been interested in meeting my value, any and everyone that’s has met me or been around me know I love the game of football and my dream is to help a team win the super bowl.”
“You all are great but I had to make a business decision that was best for my family and I. No matter how far I go or where my career takes me, I’ll continue to be close to my fans of Baltimore Flock nation and the entire State of Maryland. You’ll See me again Truzzzzz.”
Teams have been instructed by the league to reach out to Jackson directly as he does not use a traditional agent and is instead self-represented.
Earlier this month Lamar Jackson had the opportunity to take a large contract that would’ve locked him up for the long haul in Baltimore— a 3-year, $175 million slip that guaranteed Jackson $133 million due at signing and $200 million in total guarantees if he’s on the roster for the 2026 season. However, the All-Pro turned it down, holding out for a contract with larger guarantees.
The news broke just as head coach of the Ravens, John Harbaugh spoke at the AFC Coaches’ Breakfast in Phoenix, Arizona.
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“That’s the guy I want to see be our quarterback. That’s my guy,” Harbaugh said. “We made a decision to go with Lamar Jackson five years ago. Why? Because we love him. We love the way he plays, we love his mindset, his charisma, his style — everything about him we love him.”
When asked about if he had reached out to Jackson after the sudden news, Harbaugh responded that he had not talked to him in some time and hadn’t connected with the Louisville product.
“No, you know, it’s not that time right now,” he said. “It’s kind of contract time. I don’t think it’s kind of a time as a coach I need to or he wants me to. I think he just wants to focus on this part of it. I’ve left it open. If he needs me, I’m here for him.”
“I haven’t seen the tweet,” Harbaugh said. “It’s an ongoing process. I’m following it very closely, just like everybody else is here and looking forward to a resolution. I’m excited. Thinking about Lamar all the time. Thinking about him as our quarterback. We’re building our offense around that idea. I’m just looking forward to getting back to football and I’m confident that’s going to happen.”
With one of the NFL’s biggest superstars on the verge of hitting the open market, some teams have pounced at the opportunity, with one namely being the Indianapolis Colts. While the team signed Gardner Minshew and currently holds the fourth overall pick in the NFL draft, Jackson seems like the more surefire option. His proven track record speaks volumes more than a simple film study on a college QB does– along with his instant elevation of everyone around him.
“Anytime a special player is available– which he is– you gotta do the work,” Colts general manager Chris Ballard said, per The Athletic’s Zak Keefer. “I’m not gonna get into deep discussions on where it’s at, what we’re doing or what we might do, but he’s a really special player. You never know how any of this will work out.”
The Colts have struggled with mediocre quarterback play from aging, veteran quarterbacks over the years. The team has employed the work of Scott Tolzien, Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, and Matt Ryan ever since the departure of franchise quarterback Andrew Luck to an early retirement. The team has been searching for a long-term option instead of a shoddy patch job ever since.
Jackson could be their new guy at quarterback. The Ravens would as for a hefty price to pay such as Indy’s first round pick, but if that selection was going to be a QB anyway, it could prove to be a better investment than originally planned.
In a sentence none of us thought we’d say here at The Sideline Catch, rapper Meek Mill has told Patriots owner Robert Kraft that Jackson would like to join the team in New England and become a Patriot– a statement which Kraft has delegated to head coach Bill Belichick calling it his call.
