With so many teams already on Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, is there any truth behind the NFL’s rumors of collusion?
The Ravens placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on quarterback Lamar Jackson before the 4 p.m. EST deadline on Tuesday. What this means is that a rival team could try to sign Jackson to a trade, but they would owe the Ravens first-round picks in the process. Baltimore will also get the chance to match any contract.
The non-exclusive label on its own pays Jackson just over $32 million for next season. For reference, Daniel Jones just signed a $40 million a year deal. Jackson is the best player.
At first glance, one might think that Baltimore would have some competition for Jackson’s services. However, within two hours after the tag deadline passed, at least five organizations announced that they were not in Lamar.
Bands that will reportedly not *seek* a deal with Lamar Jackson include:
▫️ Falcons
▫️ dolphins
▫️ Panthers
▫️ Leaders
▫️ Raiders
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 7, 2023
Well, that’s fishy, isn’t it? All five teams could use a quarterback upgrade, and Jackson is one of the top 10 QBs in sports, if not better. He is not yet 27 years old and is a former MVP in the league. How do I miss the point?
Lamar Jackson’s complicity: Why don’t NFL teams care about Ravens QB?
Just last season, large groups of teams were interested in Texans QB Deshaun Watson despite more than 20 sexual assault allegations against him. The Falcons, Saints, Panthers and Browns had a bidding war, with Cleveland winning and giving Watson the largest contract in NFL history. It was absolutely foolproof.
Jackson had no such excesses in his past, but he became the poster boy for bad spending habits. The Falcons would rather start Desmond Ridder than sign Jackson. The Dolphins, who said just last week about being open to all possible QB promotions, are closed when it comes to Jackson. Current Panthers QB options are Sam Darnold and PJ Walker. Washington leaders prefer to start with Sam Howell. It features Las Vegas Raiders Jarrett Stidham.
There is no evidence of collusion between NFL teams because the charge has proven somewhat difficult even in league circles. Jackson is worth his money – and the Crows better give him the money.
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio put this argument nicely in his recent column:
Now, after the NFL Players Association has already filed a complaint alleging complicity in refusing to award fully guaranteed contracts to “certain quarterbacks,” teams who would otherwise have to talk to a former MVP who is available for at least two first round picks made it known. For the world do not disturb linked to Plammar.
We all know what’s going on. We also know that when push comes to shove, collusion will never be proven.”
To be convicted for collusion, one would need an immeasurable amount of evidence that many organizations have discussed and agreed to avoid Lamar Jackson in the free agent market. This is very unlikely to happen.
But is there a gentleman’s agreement not to raise the quarterback’s market price beyond his already unpredictable means?
I will let you be the judge.
