NFL rumors: Lamar Jackson could be headed to AFC West

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is likely one of the biggest trade targets this offseason. Could two AFC West teams trade for the former MVP?

It was not long ago that Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson took the NFL by storm. He was a record-breaking player, winning the 2019 NFL MVP award and proving his draft doubters wrong.

Before 2020, Jackson, then-Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, and quarterback Patrick Mahomes looked like the AFC’s future quarterback juggernauts. While Watson moved to Cleveland and Mahomes remains in Kansas City, Jackson could very well be on the move this offseason.

There are several quarterback-needy teams this offseason that are in play for Jackson’s services. Ultimately, the former Louisville Cardinal wants to reset the quarterback market, and the Ravens have not obliged Jackson. He has been eligible for a new contract since the 2021 offseason, and the Watson contract in Cleveland complicates the negotiations. All in all, the two parties are far apart on money.

Baltimore could franchise tag Jackson for the 2023 season and buy themselves more time for contract negotiations. However, trading Jackson away for draft capital is a possibility too tantalizing to ignore. The team at NFL Trade Rumors analyzed some potential suitors, and both the Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders made their list.

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Jackson coming to the AFC West would make divisional matchups even more exciting with other top quarterbacks in the division. But neither Denver nor Las Vegas are top trade suitors for Jackson.

NFLTR’s Logan Ulrich was clear that Denver needs an actual franchise quarterback but “doesn’t have the picks or money to make this work.” Ulrich did give the Raiders a better chance of landing Lamar, noting the team’s empty QB1 spot after cutting Derek Carr. With wide receiver Davante Adams and tight end Darren Waller still on the roster, there is offensive talent for any quarterback to work with. Ultimately, Ulrich remains skeptical about the Raiders as a landing spot, as the team is “in the middle of a rebuilding project…especially on the defensive end.”

The Jackson news will dominate the offseason NFL news cycle, so this speculation will continue. It is not likely he will end up in the same division as the Chiefs, but never say never in the NFL.