Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowl quarterback and former league MVP Lamar Jackson is representing himself in contact negotiations with the team, which is making things much harder. On Monday, Jackson posted a goodbye to the city of Baltimore and revealed that he asked for a trade back on March 2. Will the Ravens deal him? They still hold the leverage when they slapped the non-exclusive tag on Jackson, meaning he can sign an offer sheet with any team but Baltimore can match or get two first-round picks in return. If there is no offer sheet, Jackson would earn $32.416 million this season — if he plays under the tag.

Lamar Jackson NFL Trade Rumors: Colts Are Interested, Commanders Not

“… I love the game of football and my dream is to help a team win the super bowl,” Jackson tweeted, adding that Ravens fans “are great but I had to make a business decision that was best for my family and I. No matter how far I go or where my career takes me, I’ll continue to be close to my fans of Baltimore Flock nation and the entire State of Maryland. You’ll See me again.”

Not coincidentally, Jackson’s tweet came just as coach John Harbaugh sat down to speak to reporters at the NFL’s annual league meeting. Harbaugh was asked immediately about Jackson’s tweet as he was sitting down at the AFC coaches’ breakfast. The one constant in the Jackson contract saga has been Harbaugh’s optimism. He has repeatedly expressed confidence Jackson will remain with the Ravens. Harbaugh believes the issue is about money and not about the team’s relationship with Jackson.

“I haven’t seen the tweet. It’s an ongoing process,” Harbaugh said. “I’m following it very closely, just like everyone else here. I’m looking forward to a resolution.”

It is notable that, since Eric DeCosta took over as Ravens general manager, the team has dealt players who have requested a trade, including offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr., and wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. DeCosta has said in the past that he doesn’t want players who don’t want to be in Baltimore.

With the Indianapolis Colts again in the QB market, they have been mentioned as a top landing spot for Jackson, especially as Indy has the No. 4 overall pick in this year’s draft to help entice the Ravens – who, for all intents and purposes, they would prefer to send to the NFC. Colts own Jim Irsay told that “the money is not a problem” about trading for Jackson but that that “I do not believe in fully-guaranteed contracts.” A team can wait until after the 2023 NFL Draft to sign Jackson to an offer sheet, with 2024 and 2025 first-round picks then becoming the compensation.

Colts general manager Chris Ballard on Monday confirmed the team’s interest in the quarterback at the NFL’s annual league meeting, saying that Indianapolis — which has endured constant QB upheaval since Andrew Luck’s retirement in 2019 — has to consider all options to fix the position.

The Colts’ last deep playoff run ended with their AFC Championship Game appearance in 2014. Since then, they are 61-68-1 (.473 winning percentage). They’ve made two playoff appearances in that span, going 1-2. With many of the Colts’ core players in the primes of their careers — such as running back Jonathan Taylor and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner — the typical timeline required for a rookie quarterback to develop is not optimum.

“Anytime a special player is available, which he is, you’ve got to do the work,” Ballard said, echoing the sentiments of coach Shane Steichen, who said earlier Monday that the Colts were doing their “due diligence” on all quarterbacks. “I’m not going to get into deep discussions on where it’s at or what we’re doing or what we might do. But what I’ll tell you is he’s a really good player, really special player. But you never know how any of this will work out.”

Reports are that Jackson wants better than the fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract that Deshaun Watson got from the Browns a year ago. He won’t be getting that from the Washington Commanders, who say they aren’t interested in a trade despite a huge need at QB. GM Martin Mayhew praised Jackson but made clear the Commanders are rolling with Sam Howell and Jacoby Brissett. The Commanders saw Howell play only one game — a Week 18 victory over the Cowboys — and he completed only 11 passes. But that was enough to bolster their belief that Howell is their franchise quarterback.

“One of the problems in the league is guys play too much too soon,” Mayhew said. “I think Howell played the appropriate amount last season. I think he’s going to be a good player.”

The Detroit Lions have a solid starting quarterback in Jared Goff, who finished the 2022 season on quite a tear, but the former No. 1 overall pick has just two years remaining on his current contract and Jackson has to be considered an upgrade.

Expert Pick

Jackson to Indianapolis

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