The Patriots should try and trade for Lamar Jackson
The Baltimore Ravens and Lamar Jackson could not agree to a contract before the 2022 season. Could the Patriots acquire his services next year? An incredibly premature discussion that will surely pop up at the end of the season, the Ravens and Lamar Jackson could not agree on a contract extension.
Now, Jackson will be playing the 2022 season on his fifth year option. The Ravens could then apply the franchise tag on Jackson if they still wanted to hammer out a deal after the 2022 campaign. Jackson is one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in NFL history and is already the best running quarterback in NFL history.
He fits the mold of the modern-day NFL QB, even if some have concerns about his throwing ability. As of now, he’s not locked up for the long-term, so I think this discussion is warranted. To be fair, it is way too early to predict whether or not he’ll remain a Raven, but Jason La Canfora seems to think he’ll get moved before the draft next year.
From @JasonLaCanfora w/us on @FoxSportsRadio - 'I think Lamar Jackson is going to get traded before the draft next year.'
— Jason Smith (@howaboutafresca) September 13, 2022
La Canfora isn’t always the most reliable, so perhaps he’s way off here, but if he’s even a little bit accurate, this is something to monitor.
Why would the Patriots trade for Lamar Jackson?
Well, for starters, Mac Jones is a good quarterback, and I think he’ll take a leap forward this year. However, he is by no means elite and simply does not have the facilities to go blow for blow with guys like Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, and others.
Jones hasn’t done anything wrong, but he’s more Kirk Cousins than anything else. He’ll likely always be an efficient signal caller, but perhaps nothing more. With that said, I am rooting for Jones to play as good as humanly possible this year.
Secondly, the Ravens, by trading Jackson, would then have a need for a quarterback. Perhaps Baltimore would be interested in receiving Mac Jones in the trade? Obviously New England would need to include some draft picks and perhaps players, but Jones could be a start.
In all likelihood, teams that would be interested in trading for Jackson might not have someone as valuable as Mac Jones to ship over in the trade. Now, in that scenario, who knows if the Ravens would even be interested in sticking with Jones. I don’t think Mac Jones is going to magically change into a mobile, physically gifted quarterback if he’d be traded to the Ravens.
But, the Ravens also might want Mac Jones in the trade because he could help keep the team relevant while they decide who they’d like to pursue as their franchise QB, whether it be Jones or someone else.
This is all a bit much to throw at Patriots’ fans in week two, but I think the team would explore the idea of trading for Lamar Jackson if the opportunity presented itself.