Ravens Trade of Lamar Jackson for Dolphins QB Tua ‘Makes Sense,’ NFL Exec Insists
A trade of Lamar Jackson from the Baltimore Ravens? The organization itself has now leaking that moving the franchise quarterback in that way is an option.
And what does “one NFL executive” tell The Athletic what the Ravens should try to get in such a trade?
Tua Tagovailoa.
“Maybe a Lamar-for-Tua trade makes sense,” the exec said. … thus triggering our wish that sometimes “anonymous NFL execs” would reveal themselves and be responsible for their hot takes.
Let’s walk through this silliness …
-Jackson’s “fit” in Miami is cited here -needlessly. He’s a 26-year-old mega-talent with an MVP on his resume.
There is no place he wouldn’t “fit.”
-The Ravens would have Tua, 24, on a cheap end-of-rookie-contract year at $9 million. That's obviously a fraction of the $50 million APY that Jackson figures to land.
But ... After Tua's contract is up, assuming he plays well, he too will be due a new deal worth $30 million or $40 million or whatever per year.
How will that really "save'' anything?
-Or, what if Tua does not play well? And while he was the fifth overall pick in 2020, meaning he has some pedigree, he has also suffered multiple concussions that could put his performance and his future in doubt.
-Did Tua have a good season, concussions aside, because he's advanced nearer Lamar's level? Or did that happen because his two wide receivers are Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle?
Bottom line: Forgetting all the dollars and cents ... The gap between Jackson and Tagovailoa is far too large for the Ravens to simply exchange players and think they'll be a better team for having done so.
There are more affordable ways for the Ravens to employ a QB and there are even ways to employ a QB in Jackson's class. But trading him straight-up for Tua isn't a helpful solution. The signing of Jackson would produce positive results. A blockbuster trade bringing back a treasure chest full of talent would, too.
Those are the two helpful solutions.
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