In response to a report about executives around the league expecting the Ravens to franchise tag and trade Lamar Jackson this offseason, NFL insider Benjamin Allbright says he expects the Falcons to be at the front of the line for Jackson’s services.
It's true. I expect Atlanta to be at the front of the line though.
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) January 16, 2023
The Falcons and just about every team with a need at the position will be lining up at Baltimore’s door to acquire the former MVP quarterback. Jackson is seemingly looking to reset the market after the Browns handed Deshaun Watson an unprecedented, fully guaranteed contract. And it seems the Ravens won’t be inclined to acquiesce to Jackson’s asking price.
It remains to be seen whether any team will give him the deal he’s looking for, but nobody should be surprised if it doesn’t come to fruition. NFL owners will collude to protect their wallets. The Browns, the Haslems, and Watson made a lot of powerful people upset with the record-breaking five-year, $230 million contract. And I assume Jackson is looking for something similar, but NFL owners will be extremely weary of handing a quarterback who relies so heavily on his mobility a fully guaranteed deal.
The Falcons were in on Watson before he was shipped to Cleveland, so it makes sense for them to be interested in Jackson. Atlanta just got out from underneath a mountain of dead cap following the departures of Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Dante Fowler, and more. The organization would be dumping a ton of resources into acquiring Jackson, resources that are vital to rebuilding the roster around a potential franchise quarterback.
Personally, I would love for the Falcons to acquire Lamar Jackson. It would immediately give the team credibility with other potential free agents, make them relevant in the national spotlight, and make Falcons games fun again. I’m not quite sure it’s the best way to win a Super Bowl, especially considering the lackluster supporting cast Jackson would be surrounded with, but it would immediately make the Falcons playoff contenders.
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Photographer: David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire
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