The Commanders reportedly bowed out of the Lamar Jackson sweepstakes before it started, but Mike Florio doesn't seem to be buying that.
Jackson got the non-exclusive franchise tag from the Ravens on Tuesday. That allows the quarterback to negotiate with other teams, but the Ravens have the opportunity to match any offer. If they don’t match, they receive two first-round picks. Only teams with their first-round picks the next two years can offer Jackson a contract.
Almost immediately, teams began leaking that they weren’t interested – something that has drummed up theories about collusion. Washington was among those uninterested teams (the Falcons and Panthers have also been reported as passing), to the surprise of many. They cut ties with Carson Wentz and Taylor Heinicke is a free agent. That leaves Sam Howell, drafted last season, as their only option.
Meanwhile, the team is up for sale by embattled owner Dan Snyder. Appearing on CBS Sports Radio’s “The Zach Gelb Show,” ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio said the potential sale of the Commanders is something he’s watching amid the Jackson situation.
“Wouldn’t it be something if Daniel Snyder (signed Jackson) on his way out the door,” Florio said, “With a five-year, fully-guaranteed contract that’s going to tie the hands of Jeff Bezos or someone along those lines. And it also gives a middle finger to the NFL in a time the NFL doesn’t want fully guaranteed contracts. There’s just something about that that’s intriguing to me, because it’s a check Daniel Snyder will write but never have to cash.
“And yeah, the money will kind of come out in the sale of the team, but when you’re talking about $7 billion, it's couch cushion money to have Lamar Jackson signed for the next five years in a salary cap environment. So, I’m watching the Commanders.”
Snyder is persona non grata around the football world and beyond. The Commanders have been a mess under his ownership to the point of federal investigations into workplace misconduct towards women and financial improprieties.
The on-field product hasn’t been good either, with six postseason appearances for Washington since Snyder bought the team in 1999 – most of which ended in the wild card round.
Adding a star quarterback could be a last-ditch effort for Snyder to try to repair his image.
“If you are selling, you leave as a hero. You delivered Lamar Jackson," Florio said. "You’ve taken him from the other team in your area, while he’s still in his prime, and you bring him to your team and all of the sudden your team is relevant, your team is a contender, your team can be good after you’re gone.
“And if the team does get better after Dan Snyder is gone – because it can’t get much worse after he’s gone – at least he can say it’s not because of all the other changes that were made, it was because of me getting Lamar Jackson on my way out the door.”
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