Years of signing retread quarterbacks such as Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan hasn’t worked out for the Colts. So why not kick the tires on Lamar Jackson?
Now under a non-exclusive franchise tag, Jackson can negotiate with other teams. The Ravens have the right to match any offer, but if Lamar runs to another team, the organization would receive two first-round picks.
Two first-round picks for a 26-year-old former MVP seems like an absolute no-brainer.
It’s up to Indianapolis to make an offer Jackson can’t refuse and the Ravens won’t want to match. While there have been some floated whispers that Jackson wants a contract with an astromical $230 million guaranteed, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith has reported that this is not the case.
Baltimore is already $9 million over the cap. The Colts have almost $12 million in cap space this year. If the Colts front-load a contract with enough guaranteed money, the Ravens would be heavily incentivized to simply take the picks.
As for other options at signal-caller in Indianapolis, Indy is well-positioned to take a top quarterback prospect with the fourth overall pick and could theoretically even jump up to the first pick should they pull off a deal with the Chicago Bears. Given the immense amount of assets it would take to move up, though, the guarantee of spending draft equity on a proven star in Lamar Jackson is very, very intriguing.
Jackson is already a force, but he’d be even better in Shane Steichen’s offense handing off to Jonathan Taylor. What’s a linebacker supposed to do when the two line up in RPO formation? If the Colts want to win now, they should take the sure thing and trade with Baltimore.
