Looks like we can cross two more teams off the list of potential Lamar Jackson suitors. Lions coach Dan Campbell told Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press that his team won’t be pursuing Jackson. Meanwhile, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com tweets that the Texans won’t be involved in the Jackson sweepstakes.
[RELATED: Lamar Jackson Requests Trade]
Jackson requested a trade from the Ravens earlier this month, and the QB took his request public yesterday. Since then, Colts owner Jim Irsay seemed to imply that his team won’t be pursuing Jackson, citing the quarterback’s desire for a fully guaranteed contract. Jets GM Joe Douglas also said his team won’t go after Jackson out of respect for Aaron Rodgers and the Packers organization.
Now, it sounds like two more squads are out. While most teams will be wary of committing record-breaking guaranteed money to the QB, Campbell seemed to indicate that the Lions were also perfectly content with their current quarterback situation.
“Yeah, look, Lamar’s a heck of a talent,” Campbell said. “Trying to defend that guy has been something else. We played them two years ago but, man, we got a quarterback. So I’m like, we got a quarterback and thank God we got one, and so we’re good. But man, he’s a heck of a talent.”
Jared Goff made a Pro Bowl during his second season in Detroit after tossing 29 touchdowns vs. seven interceptions while helping lead the Lions to a 9-8 record. Goff will only be entering his age-29 season in 2023, and he still has two more years remaining on his contract (worth affordable base salaries of ~$20MM). Goff doesn’t provide as much upside as Jackson, but it’s hard to be too critical of the Lions when you also consider the monetary commitment they’d have to make to Jackson (plus the draft compensation they’d have to give up to Baltimore).
The Texans don’t have their future quarterback on the roster, but the organization also isn’t feeling much urgency to compete right away. Jackson would surely accelerate their timeline, but with the Texans armed with the second-overall pick, it’s much more likely they opt for a rookie QB who can grow alongside their young core.
While Jackson’s desire for guaranteed money has certainly cooled his market, Chris Mortensen tweets that teams are also wary of the QB’s injury history. One anonymous team was juggling the monetary investment vs. all of the games and practices that Jackson has missed in recent years, with one source wondering if the player’s “sleep habits and nutrition” have contributed to the absences.
One potential outcome is that Jackson remains with the Ravens, and despite the trade request. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweets that the organization was discussing a new contract with the quarterback as recently as last week.
Ha ha Lamar! You’re a legend in your own mind.
Dude for real WAAAAAAAY overplayed his hand. You are an injury prone, running QB that will not age well in today’s NFL. And with mommy playing his agent, it’s not looking good as far as getting what he feels he’s worth. Good luck to any team trying to figure this cluster out. And big props to the Ravens for not giving in and guaranteeing him a crazy amount of cash!
I was actually looking forward to him tanking the Ravens organization for the foreseeable future. I guess even they’re not that stupid.
Slim pickings ahead!
The question becomes will Baltimore non exclusive him again next year, or will Lamar cave?
What’s the escalator on franchising a QB twice now? Does it go to the exclusive rights rate even if it’s non-exclusive?
First, they have to see what he does this year. He may choose to sit out.
And give up 30 mil, doubt it. 120% escalator.
If he chooses to sit out while tagged, they can place the tag on him the next year as if he wasn’t tagged because he refused to play.
120%? The ravens probably have to decide again which tag next year.
I mean…Campbell almost sounds like he’s trying too hard to explain it. “We have a QB already” says every coach before an upgraded version comes available. It might be how he feels, it just doesn’t sound believable.
The Lions have made it abundantly clear that they are drafting a QB. Bringing back Sudfeld as the #3, and drafting a developmental QB to be the backup just looks like about the only option at this point. There just simply is no scenario where dealing for Jackson makes any sense for our organization in the situation it has found itself in for the first time in forever.
Why? Why not trade the 6 and the low first next year plus whatever for Lamar and guarantee you’re gonna be good as long as he starts? Flip Goff to the Jets for that second rounder they offered the packers and really screw GB?
It makes sense. If we’re being honest, Goff ain’t it and neither is a rookie.
The Lion’s luck, he gets injured and next year’s pick is #1 overall.
Lamar Jackson hasn’t been good since ’19, you’re buying into a narrative. Lamar isn’t a guarantee to make any team good.
You don’t just toss out a QB that threw 29 TDs, only 7 ints and made the pro bowl. Goff is doing great in that system. Improving the defense has to be their focus now.
Exactly. I’m FAR from a Goff fan; absolutely hated that we got him back in the deal when it was made, but I’ve grown to see that I was wrong about us bringing him in. He’s showing that his key to success is what the Rams gave him when he succeeded there; a strong O-line, and some decent weapons built around a short-range passing game built on efficiency. Coupling that w/ Ben Johnson’s creativity and he’s thriving here again. If Lamar was this amazing QB and player that so many still want to believe he is, then you have to ask why is it that his own team doesn’t want to pay him, nor any other team that matter (so far)? Great players get paid.
There’s no need to give up any draft capital at all if we just sit back and stick with the better pocket passer for the next two seasons, at about half the cap hit as Lamar would cost, and plus we won’t have to worry so much about the cumulative damage our QB has taken by the time the postseason rolls around. Use pick #6 on Jalen Carter and then BPA at #18. This Lions team is ready to compete. I want nothing to do with Lamar Jackson.
I’m a Texans fan. They better not hand $200M+ to that guy plus 2 firsts. It’s been proven in general that paying a QB top 5 $ doesn’t equal to winning the Super Bowl. Best case is you are a playoff contender with him but never a Super Bowl contender and you are dangerously dependent on this guy who beats to his own drum. Worst case is he is injured off and on for periods and he is eating up around $50M of your cap. Nah I’m good, I’ll go rookie QB and see how that goes. Ravens have him by the nuts for 2 more years if he can’t find something else. $31.7 this year and another tag at 31.7×1.2=38 next year both way under what he wants for multiple years guaranteed. Bro might sign that 3/133 after all…
“with one source wondering if the player’s ‘sleep habits and nutrition’ have contributed to the absences.”
I’m interested in hearing more on this take. Is there a narrative out there regarding his sleep habits and nutrition, or is this just one guy trying to find a reason for all the injuries?
The fall out from the Watson contract may be that some teams are rethinking the need for a elite $50 million QB with a guaranteed contract to be competitive. SF was winning with Purdy and several teams are going with young qb’s next year. We might start seeing a trend if the kids can play.