Lamar Jackson, the former NFL MVP and star quarterback of the Baltimore Ravens, has stunned the football world by announcing his trade request on social media. Jackson, who has been with the Ravens since 2018, said he asked for a trade on March 2nd after failing to reach a long-term deal with the team.
Jackson wrote on Twitter that he loves the game of football and his dream is to help a team win the Super Bowl, but he feels that the Ravens have not been interested in meeting his value. He thanked the Ravens organization, his teammates, and the fans for their support and said he hopes to find a new home soon.
The Ravens had applied the non-exclusive franchise tag on Jackson on March 7th, which means he could negotiate with other teams but the Ravens could match any offer or receive two first-round picks as compensation. The tag would pay Jackson $32.4 million for the 2023 season, but Jackson apparently wants more security and stability.
The Ravens have not commented on Jackson’s trade request publicly, but head coach John Harbaugh said he was unaware of Jackson’s tweet and that he was following the situation closely. Harbaugh is excited about Jackson as his quarterback. He was confident that a resolution would be reached.
Jackson’s trade request comes as a shock to many Ravens fans who have witnessed his spectacular rise from a rookie backup to a league MVP in 2019. Jackson has led the Ravens to three playoff appearances and has broken several records with his dual-threat abilities as a passer and a runner. He has thrown for 11,757 yards and 87 touchdowns and rushed for 3,670 yards and 23 touchdowns in his four seasons with the Ravens.
Jackson’s trade request also creates a huge dilemma for the Ravens, who have built their offense around his unique skill set and have invested heavily in supporting him with weapons and protection. The Ravens would have to find a suitable replacement for Jackson, either through free agency, trade, or draft, and adjust their offensive scheme accordingly. The Ravens would also have to weigh the potential offers from other teams and decide whether they are worth losing their franchise player.
Jackson’s trade request is one of the biggest stories of this offseason and will have major implications for the Ravens and the rest of the NFL. It remains to be seen whether Jackson and the Ravens can work out their differences or whether Jackson will be wearing a different jersey next season.
What team will trade for Lamar Jackson?
Below are the updated odds of where Lamar Jackson will land per bookies.com. The Ravens are no longer the front runner as the Tennessee Titans and Minnesota Vikings moved to the first and second bet odds for Jackson.
It will be interesting to see how things shape up.
