There has been a dark cloud looming over Baltimore throughout this entire season. Rather than resigning their franchise quarterback to an extension over the offseason, the Ravens’ front office forced Lamar Jackson to once again bet on himself and play through another season without a lucrative extension waiting for him. With the way that Jackson plays the game, it leaves him in a very bad spot. Jackson is arguably the best dual threat in the NFL, however, because of his ability to run with the ball, he is frequently taking hits. As a result of Jackson’s game being limited and him once again fighting injuries, the Ravens fell short of their season goal and were bounced from the first round of the playoffs.
Jackson is still one of the best quarterbacks in the league, however, it has become clear that he is tired of Baltimore not doing much for him. With the rumor mill constantly churning up rumors, his future with the Ravens remains up in the air heading into the offseason. We will break down where these rumors are stemming from and what options Jackson has moving forward.
Recent Events
As previously mentioned, the Baltimore Ravens were defeated in the first round of the playoffs by the Cincinnati Bengals. Falling by a final score of 24-17. Despite the score being so close, Jackson did not play in the game due to an injury. On top of not playing, Jackson also did not attend the game or support his team on social media. After the contest, Baltimore running back J.K. Dobbins made it clear his thoughts on the situation saying, “Yeah, we would’ve won if Lamar played too”. Dobbins went on to criticize the playcalling and his lack of carries.
It is clear that there are locker room issues in Baltimore. Players are coming at coaches, other players, and the front office is in a standoff with the franchise quarterback. If things do not quickly change in Baltimore, it is possible that Jackson could force his way out. There are likely two ways this offseason will go for Jackson. He will either remain a member of the Ravens through an extension or franchise tag, or he will force his way out of Baltimore via a trade.
Resign With the Baltimore Ravens?
If the Ravens can get back on the same page in the locker room over the offseason and the front office finally offers Jackson the deal he has earned, there is a good chance that he resigns with the team. He has already established himself as a legend in Baltimore, and if the right offer is made, Jackson would likely be more than happy to stay.
Demand a Trade?
On the flip side, if the Ravens continue to lowball Jackson, there is a chance that he could refuse to play until he is traded from the Ravens. If this ends up occurring, he could end up forcing his way to a contending team. Some teams that would be in the market to trade for him and would be a solid fit are the New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers, and potentially the New York Giants.
