It does appear like the Baltimore Ravens could trade Lamar Jackson. What would packages from the New England Patriots look like to get the player?
Yes, Lamar Jackson being traded is something that looks increasingly likely. The Ravens would have to put some type of tag on Jackson if the two sides cannot agree to a deal on Tuesday.
The tag would give the Ravens more time to negotiate a deal, but at this point, if a tag is applied, the Ravens might be accepting the fact that Jackson might not be a Raven anymore and trade offers could then be entertained.
If the Patriots were to make offers to the Ravens for Lamar Jackson, what would that look like?
Patriots trade for Lamar Jackson: What packages would make sense?
Package one: Ravens receive 2023, 2024, 2025 first round picks, Kendrick Bourne
The first package would be the Patirots sending their next three first round picks in 2023, 2024, and 2025. They’d also include Kendrick Bourne in the deal and would receive Lamar Jackson back in the deal.
Not sure if this would be enough, obviously, but the main framework of the Deshaun Watson trade was including three first round picks in the deal.
I do think the injury concern with Jackson is valid, so who knows if a potential trade package would be as much as the Texans got for Watson.
Patriots trade for Lamar Jackson: What packages would make sense?
Package two: Ravens receive 2023, 2024, 2025 first round picks, 2024 second round pick, Mac Jones
The next package to attempt to trade for Lamar Jackson is a more competitive offer that the Ravens could certainly entertain. Baltimore would probably want a QB back in any deal for Jackson, so in this package, they’d get Mac Jones back.
The three first round picks are still included, but I added a 2024 second round pick and QB Mac Jones. This would still give the Patriots their own second round pick and all of their other picks in 2023, so as much as this package is, it isn’t totally depleting the team of draft capital.
The Patriots would obviously have to have a contract ready for the 2019 MVP to sign, but that’d likely be agreed to before any deal were to be put in place.
Honestly, I’m not sure this would be enough for Jackson. I do think a more competitive offer from another team would come by, and if the Ravens were to entertain trading Jackson in the AFC, they’d probably want more than if they were to trade him in the NFC.
Patriots trade for Lamar Jackson: What packages would make sense?
Package three: Ravens receive 2023, 2024, 2025 first round picks, 2023, 2024 second round picks, 2024 third round pick
In this deal, a whopping six draft picks are traded from the Patriots to the Ravens for Lamar Jackson. In total, the Ravens are getting three 1s, two 2s, and one 3 in the deal.
Man, this would be a ton of draft capital to trade, but Jackson is still in his mid 20s and would instantly make the Patriots contenders in the AFC. I’d trust Bill O’Brien to get elite production out of Lamar Jackson, as he did it with Deshaun Watson.
The Patriots would then not pick until the third round in both the 2023 and 2024 drafts, but would have their second round pick in 2025.
It would be hard to swallow losing this much capital, but it would be a gamble that one team is going to make if Jackson is traded.