Should the Panthers Pursue Lamar Jackson?

After failing to reach an agreement on a long-term contract extension, the Baltimore Ravens have placed a franchise tag on quarterback Lamar Jackson. Typically, teams place the exclusive franchise tag on a player, meaning he can't go anywhere else.

That is, however, not what Baltimore did here. Instead, they placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Jackson, meaning he can agree to an offer from another club to which then the Ravens will have an opportunity to match the offer sheet and retain him. If they decide the money is too much and they let him walk, the Ravens would net two first-round picks from the team he signs with to make the transaction complete.

So, is this something the Panthers should consider? Yes. Absolutely.

This team is built to win now. Sure, they could stand to use a little help at receiver, tight end, and a couple of spots on the defense. But for the most part, this is a team that's ready to contend. The only thing that's holding them back is the glaring hole at quarterback. Adding Lamar Jackson to this squad takes care of that and then some.

Giving up the two first round picks is no issue, in my opinion. Let's be honest, if they're considering a trade up to No. 1, it's going to take at least two firsts to get there. Maybe more. So why not take those firsts and just send them to Baltimore?

Well, it's a little more complicated than that. Obviously. Jackson is going to likely want north of $200 million in guaranteed money. It's a lot of dough. When the Browns guaranteed Deshaun Watson $230M, it reset the market. So if Watson is worth that much, Jackson should be worth more, right?

That's what Carolina has to figure out. How much is too much? Do you lock yourself into a big, long-term deal with a quarterback that has only played in twelve games in each of the last two seasons? Or do you trust your scouts and coaching staff to identify and develop a young incoming rookie who will be on a rookie contract for four years?

If I'm Scott Fitterer and team owner David Tepper, I'm willing to go all-in. This is a former MVP we are talking about who is only 26-years-old. You're talking about someone who can help you compete for division championships and Super Bowls for years to come with one of the most talented young defenses in the league. You know exactly what you're getting in Jackson. He's proven.

And that right there is the difference for me. If you're willing to risky, I'd much rather risk it by throwing a boatload of money at a proven commodity than for someone who may or may not pan out.

It will be interesting to see how serious the Panthers will be in a potential pursuit, but knowing how Scott Fitterer operates, I'm sure they'll be looking into it.

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