The Baltimore Ravens have verbally expressed an unwavering desire to keep Lamar Jackson.
But they've yet to back that up by reaching a deal with him on a contract extension, and until they do, all the other potential scenarios seem to be on the table.
Despite some attempts to find common ground, the Ravens and Jackson, who is representing himself, have yet to reach the finish line on a new deal. Jackson is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, but all but certainly will be franchise tagged.
Assuming the Ravens go the franchise tag route, that doesn't necessarily preclude them from moving Jackson. And appearing on the "Pat McAfee Show," NFL insider Ian Rapoport said that despite the organization's overtures, he's not convinced a trade is off the table.
"John Harbaugh has come out very hard and said 200 percent chance Lamar Jackson is their quarterback, and I'm saying I'm not so sure about that," Rapoport said. "I know they're going to tag him, and they can do a non-exclusive tag, which is if someone signs him to an offer sheet, (the Ravens) get two first-round picks.
"They could do an exclusive tag, you end up signing a much more expensive contract, no one can negotiate with him, but you still could trade him. He could sign him and then you could trade him and work out a new deal. And that would probably get you more than two first-round picks, that would get you more like the Russell Wilson package.
"But there is a possibility that the Ravens could be tempted with a windfall of picks. And Lamar Jackson is awesome, he's the type of talent you wait your whole career for if you're a head coach or a GM. I now think based on what I'm reporting that a trade is possible. Expensive, but possible."
When the Broncos traded for Wilson last offseason, they sent Seattle their first- and second-round picks in both 2022 and 2023. They also sent a fifth-round pick to Seattle in 2022 in exchange for a fourth-round pick. The Seahawks also got Drew Lock, Noah Fant and Shelby Harris in the deal.
The Ravens easily could fetch that kind of return for Jackson, if not more. However, as tempting as those picks might be, the fact that they could get such a massive return should suggest to Baltimore that it would be taking an enormous risk moving Jackson.
It's a real bird in the hand-esque debacle, but the Ravens could upend the quarterback market this offseason if they decided to start taking calls on Jackson.
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