The NFL quarterback carousel is in full swing now after Derek Carr signed with the Saints earlier this week. One of the big names available via trade is likely to be Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
The relationship between Jackson and the Ravens has gotten tense and all signs point to the quarterback receiving the franchise tag for the second straight year.
The Atlanta Falcons are one team that could be looking for an upgrade at quarterback and Jackson landing there might make sense. Former NFL running back LaDainian Tomlinson brought up the idea of Jackson to Atlanta on “NFL Total Access” with Brian Baldinger.
Baldinger and 92.9 The Game's Carl Dukes of the Audacy Original Podcast "In The Huddle" discussed the possibility of Jackson to Atlanta which “makes a lot of sense” to the NFL insider.
“There’s a lot of stuff that has to get done. There’s salary cap. There’s compensation. There’s a ton of stuff to make that happen but I believe he’s going to get moved” Baldinger said (20:08 in player above). “So if he is going to get moved, and it sure feels like that, Carl, to me. I feel the same thing you feel that if he’s going to get moved, (Atlanta) makes a lot of sense to me.”
“It makes a lot of sense to me. And I will tell you, half of Atlanta has told me I’m crazy,” Dukes laughed.
Baldinger also received similar feedback after retweeting the video of Tomlinson speculating about Jackson in Atlanta.
One of the reasons some Falcons fans may not want Jackson is that they might already have an answer at quarterback in Desmond Ridder. Ridder led the Falcons to a 2-2 record in the final four games of the season, including a two-touchdown performance against the Buccaneers.
Mind you, potentially wanting Jackson in Atlanta isn’t a knock on Ridder.
“I don’t know if Ridder gets people excited, and right now, Lamar Jackson … he gets people excited. I think that is an element if you’re an owner,” Dukes said. “Is your fanbase engaged and excited about what you’re putting on the field? … And I think just from that standpoint, I know it might sound crazy, but that’s the problem. That’s what’s going on here. We like him, but he doesn’t excite us because we don’t know enough about him right now.”
Nevertheless, a quarterback like Jackson would give Atlanta a star they haven’t seen since the likes of Michael Vick. He’d get fans excited and give the team a legitimate chance to win the NFC South.
“If they’re fighting for the division in December next year, that Mercedes-Benz Dome is going to be rocking like it’s the SEC Championship Game. That will be rocking,” Baldinger said. “There will be a demand to go watch Lamar in a playoff-caliber game in December next year if he’s there.”
Adding a dynamic quarterback and former MVP like Jackson to an offense with Tyler Allgeier, Cordarrelle Patterson, and Kyle Pitts could put Atlanta ahead of the pack in the division.
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