The most unhinged offseason in NFL history took another turn for the crazy Wednesday with Kansas City unloading star receiver Tyreek Hill in a stunning trade the internet is still trying to wrap its head around. Hill and the Chiefs apparently couldn’t reach an agreement on a new contract, facilitating his trade to Miami in a blockbuster no one saw coming.
If the chaos of the past month has taught us anything it’s that players, even full-fledged superstars in the prime of their career, have never been more disposable. Hill’s sudden departure leaves Kansas City with a major void to fill at wide receiver. Whether that’s accomplished through the draft or free agency (former Packer Marquez Valdes-Scantling is said to be in town for a visit) remains to be seen, though many, including NFL expert Bill Barnwell, are already linking the Chiefs to Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, a similar deep threat coming off a breakout 2021 that saw the 24-year-old set career-highs in catches (91), receiving yards (1,008) and yards per game (63).
The Ravens will soon have to decide A) whether to exercise Brown’s fifth-year team option and B) whether to extend him beyond his rookie deal, which expires after 2023 (assuming Baltimore decides to pick up his option). That could make Brown, at least in theory, a trade candidate, though not if you ask teammate Lamar Jackson, who took to Twitter Wednesday to emphatically dispel that narrative.
Jackson, of course, has his own financial slalom course to navigate.
The former MVP has largely ignored the Ravens’ contract overtures, seemingly content to play under the franchise tag (which he’ll be eligible for next season) in lieu of an extension.
Some may interpret Jackson’s lack of cooperation as a sign the quarterback is looking for a way out of Baltimore, but that isn’t necessarily the case. Delaying his inevitable extension, kicking the can further and further down the road as the salary cap increases and quarterback salaries rise to unfathomable new heights (recent deals signed by Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford and Deshaun Watson suggest we’re headed that way), may actually be the surest way for Jackson, who represents himself in negotiations, to maximize his earning potential.
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