Skip to main content

Patriots Robert Kraft Fuels Lamar Jackson Trade Buzz with Meek Mill Text

The New England Patriots continue to be a rumored destination for Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson in 2023 and beyond.

Has rapper Meek Mill sent the New England Patriots ‘rumor mill’ into overdrive? 

The music mogul, known to have a close friendship with Patriots owner Robert Kraft, may have revealed the preferred playing destination of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson for 2023 and beyond. 

While speaking at the NFL’s ownership meeting in Phoenix on Monday, Kraft revealed that he had received a text from Mill “about three or four days ago” claiming that the former first-round Draft pick and NFL MVP wanted to join the Patriots.

Jackson, of course, is currently embroiled in a contract dispute with Baltimore, leading many to believe that he may have played his final down as a Raven. Despite having been previously linked to the Pats in trade rumors, the Pats were thought to be out of the running for his services proper to Kraft’s revelations. 

After turning down a contract extension offer in the offseason, Jackson turned in an overall solid performance in 2022. The Louisville product finished the season having completed 203 passes for 2242 yards 17 touchdowns, while carrying the ball 112 times for 764 yards and three scoring runs.

Unfortunately, he was limited to 12 games, due to a sprained PCL in Week 13 against the Denver Broncos. He missed the remainder of the regular season, as well as Baltimore's 24-17 playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Wild Card weekend. 

Still, both sides publicly maintained optimism that a deal could be reached during the offseason. To date, however, Baltimore has remained reluctant to meet Jackson’s contractual demands. As a result, the 26-year-old revealed on Monday that he had requested a trade from the club in early March. In turn, the Ravens responded by placing the non-exclusive franchise tag on Jackson.

Should they decide to entertain the idea of acquiring Jackson, the Patriots would be would be forced to surrender two first-round draft picks to the Ravens, in addition to agreeing to what may potentially be one of the most lucrative contracts in the NFL. 

Kraft did not offer any additional information surrounding his exchange with Mill. While Jackson’s purported interest in joining New England can currently be categorized as mere rumor and innuendo, Kraft did advise that the decision was one Patriots coach Bill Belichick would have to make.

Earlier in the day, Belichick reiterated that, per usual, the upcoming season invites the opportunity for competition at every position — including quarterback, whose depth chart currently consists of incumbent starter Mac Jones and reserve Bailey Zappe. 

“Everybody will get a chance to play. We’ll play the best players,” Belichick said. “Every position, everybody will get a chance to play. Everyone that’s on our roster, if they earn the opportunity to play based on what they do in practice and all that, then they will get a chance to play.”

Could that mean the Patriots are keeping their options open when it comes to acquiring Jackson? 

Only time will tell.  

Until then, let the speculation continue. 


Follow Mike D’Abate on Twitter @mdabateNFL and Listen/Subscribe to his daily podcast: Locked On Patriots

Follow Patriots Country on Twitter and Facebook

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Patriots? Click Here

More Patriots coverage from Sports Illustrated here.