Lamar Jackson Trade to Falcons: Ravens Get 3 First-Round Picks?
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is a free agent this offseason, and the club insists there is a "200-percent chance'' that he'll be retained.
But .. along with the team continuing its two-year journey toward trying to sign him, and along with the Ravens likely to franchise tag him if a deal isn't met ...
There is the open secret of the idea of a trade.
Jackson, the 2019 NFL MVP, is clearly unhappy with the state of things here in Baltimore, his recent cryptic tweet alluding to that concept.
"When you have something good, you don't play with it,'' Lamar posted. "You don't take chances losing it. You don't neglect it. When you have something good, you pour into it. You appreciate it. Because when you take care of something good, that good thing takes care of you, too."
Meanwhile, Ravens management is saying all the right things about retaining the electric Jackson - but to critics, Ravens management isn't actually doing anything.
A team that could pull the trigger and make a move for Jackson is the Atlanta Falcons, who would receive a huge upgrade over Marcus Mariota and Desmond Ridder should they be able to execute a swap.
And what might that cost be? Call this an "educated guess'' on our part, but all involved might want to get used to the idea of Baltimore asking for three first-round picks in such a deal.
A trade would in theory include this year's No. 8 pick, and the excitement in Atlanta would be palpable, as Jackson would fit right into Atlanta's offensive identity, with tight end Kyle Pitts, who could mirror how the Ravens utilize Mark Andrews.
Two problems, one for each team ...
In Atlanta, the draft cupboard would be quite bare. Last offseason, the Browns did this in acquiring Deshaun Watson and the Broncos did this in acquiring Russell Wilson, and they got nowhere doing so.
And in Baltimore: Avoid paying a QB $50 million APY? Check. Collect cap-beating first-round picks? Check.
Who plays QB for the Ravens? Um ... no check.
And this is where Lamar has a point, albeit an expensive one.
"When you have something good, you don't take chances losing it.''
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