Quarterback Lamar Jackson let it be known that he is hoping to be on the move this offseason. On Monday, as Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh was set to take the podium at the NFL owners meetings, Lamar Jackson took to Twitter and announced that he asked the team for a trade a few weeks ago.
Figuring out where Jackson could end up isn’t very easy. While there are plenty of teams around the league that need a quarterback, no team has emerged as a potential suitor. In fact, more teams said that they will not be pursuing him.
The fact franchises around the league aren’t lining up to acquire a 26-year-old that already has an MVP award on his résumé and has gone 45-16 as a starter is truly shocking. Jackson is arguably the most dynamic player in the NFL and would turn multiple teams into instant contenders.
One of the teams that should now be pursuing Lamar Jackson is the Indianapolis Colts. 2023 is going to be the eighth straight year that the Colts have a different starting quarterback in Week 1 of the season. Andrew Luck from 2012-2016 is the last time Indianapolis had the same starting quarterback in consecutive seasons.
Jackson would bring some much-needed stability and continuity to the position for the Colts. Acquiring him certainly won’t be cheap, but it would be worth the price as he is a legitimate game-changer at the quarterback position.
Since the Ravens placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Lamar Jackson, they can match any offer sheet that he signs. Should they opt to not match it, they will receive two first-round picks in exchange for him.
That is a deal that the Colts should jump at, as they are likely going to be using their first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft on a quarterback anyway. The hope is that any of the players selected can reach the heights that Jackson has, so why not acquire the established player?
The Colts can offer the No. 4 overall pick in the draft and a first-round pick in 2024 to the Ravens in exchange for Lamar Jackson. That would be a steal when compared to what the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos traded away to land Deshaun Watson and Russell Wilson.
The Ravens could ask for more in return for the former MVP, but their leverage isn’t very high. The Colts could just sign Jackson to a massive contract, one that Baltimore isn’t comfortable matching, and receive the two first-round picks in exchange.
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