NFL rumors: Why Lamar Jackson’s trade market could be surprisingly small

The Baltimore Ravens hope the Lamar Jackson situation doesn’t boil toward a trade, but if it does, the market might be smaller than one would think.

Recent NFL rumors suggest that if Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is up for a trade, there may not be as much of an appetite from teams around the league as one might expect.

Jeremy Fowler published a lengthy column for ESPN on Thursday morning addressing the situation Jackson and the Ravens are in entering the offseason. Within it, he provided ve some insight into the perception of trading for Jackson around the league, should he be available in a trade:

"“…multiple rival team officials reached by ESPN said the thought of relinquishing at least two first-round picks — the baseline asking price, based on the non-exclusive tag — for the right to pay Jackson between $230 million and $250 million in guaranteed money could give teams pause.”"

Fowler provided an incredible amount of detail and context in his article, worth reading. But the general timeline is this:

• Lamar Jackson has asked the Ravens for guaranteed money in-line with what the Browns gave Deshaun Watson.
• Jackson performed well last year before an injury held him out of the team’s final games, including a playoff game.
• There was a lack of communication between Jackson and the team on his injury. Jackson himself took to Twitter to give the world details on the injury he was dealing with.
• Jackson is not represented by an agent and the team is widely expected to apply a franchise tag to him if they can not come to an extension agreement. The deadline to do so is March 7.

NFL rumors: Ravens leverage is growing in Lamar Jackson situation

Firstly, here’s why a trade is in-play in the first place.

There are two types of franchise tags. One is an exclusive, the other a non-exclusive.

A non-exclusive franchise tag allows other teams to submit an offer to Jackson. If the Ravens do not match the offer sheet, then the other team can give Baltimore two first-round draft picks in order to acquire Jackson.

The exclusive tag, on the other hand, allows Baltimore to demand whatever they deem proper value to obtain Jackson’s services.

So, if he’s tagged, he is technically available on the trade market.

The Ravens know Jackson wants a long-term deal and ostensibly want to keep him in Baltimore, albeit on a tenable financial basis.

If they believe the notion that other teams will sour at the idea of having to give the Ravens draft compensation as well as a heap of guaranteed cash to Jackson, it may push them even more in the direction of exercising the tag as a leverage option.

After all, they have the right to match the incoming offer sheets, so it’s hardly a losing situation for the Ravens. The only way they come out bad on that deal is if Jackson doesn’t sign the franchise tag or agree to a separate extension with the team.

Should Jackson choose to take that path, he would be unable to sign with any other team for the season, essentially choosing to leave a year of earnings — and his prime — on the table. That gives him limited options if other teams haven’t made a push to trade for him, he would then need to sign the franchise tag agreement for 2023 or lower his asking price with the Ravens on a long-term deal.

Ultimately, though, it’s hard to believe the idea that not a single team would drive up the price on Jackson and offer him the money he deserves, even if it is pricey. He’s a former MVP and with the right talent around him can easily join the trio of quarterbacks in the AFC vying for a Super Bowl on an annual basis. In the NFC, he would have a field day.