What does it take to acquire a talented quarterback like Lamar Jackson? Remember, it was reported Baltimore Ravens offered Jackson guaranteed money $133 million at signing, $175 million if he got injured, and $200 million if he’s on the roster in 2026. Jackson reportedly turned down the contract. Jackson responded on Twitter regarding those reports.
As if things couldn’t get any worse, Jackson publicly requested a trade on March 2nd because the team was not interested in meeting his value on a contract. Ravens placed the non-exclusive tag on Jackson worth $32.416 million for the upcoming 2023 NFL season but still have until July 17th to reach a long term deal. Since the new league started, several teams have been reported to be out on acquiring Jackson but one team who hasn’t been reported to be out on him is the the Indianapolis Colts. Colts who is armed with the fourth overall pick are projected to select a quarterback in the draft later this month. With Carolina Panthers already trading up to acquire the first overall pick from the Chicago Bears and others teams rumored to be contacting the Arizona Cardinals about the third pick. This could potentially put the Colts in a bad position.
It was reported teams like Seattle, Raiders, and Tennessee are potential suitors to move ahead of the Colts and draft their quarterback. This could force the Colts hands and pull the trigger on Lamar Jackson. Under the non-exclusive tag, Lamar Jackson could still negotiate a deal with a new team with the Ravens having a chance to match any deals. If Ravens choose not to match the deal, then the team would have to send two first round picks to the Ravens. NFL writer, Peter King writes the Colts could be interested in acquiring Jackson.
King writes:
“After Jackson tweeted last week that he’d asked to be traded, there was speculation the Colts would be interested, in part because of the desperation of owner Jim Irsay. And if the guarantees weren’t stupid, I think the Colts would be interested. My bet is the Ravens would take the fourth pick in the draft, solely, for Jackson.”But I can’t see the Colts getting involved with Jackson having the injury history of the last two years (34 percent of the Ravens’ offensive snaps missed in ’21 and ’22, with Jackson starting and finishing one of Baltimore’s 12 December/January games in the last two years) and wanting a fully guaranteed contract. Rampant speculation, some fueled by Jackson, is that Baltimore has offered a three-year pact fully guaranteed and it wasn’t good enough.”
Would the Colts be interested in acquiring Lamar Jackson straight up for the fourth pick or would Colts owner Jim Irsay be willing to take a chance at drafting his own quarterback in the draft with prospects like QB Will Levis and Anthony Richardson potentially being available? Despite all the rumors, Colts are a team to watch on the Lamar Jackson front.
