According to the latest reports, the Baltimore Ravens and Lamar Jackson are like $100 million apart in their contract talks.
Jackson is reportedly demanding top-dollar — as he should — but the Ravens don’t want to guarantee him as much money as he wants.
With free agency looming, the franchise will most likely use the franchise tag on him, but there’s no guarantee he’ll want to play under those circumstances.
So, if Jackson threatens to hold out or forces his way out of the team, the Atlanta Falcons have become the frontrunner to make a splash for him, according to NFL analyst Jaime Eisner.
The New York Jets, Las Vegas Raiders, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are also potential destinations for the former MVP.
Updated top odds for next team (if they leave current) from @betonline_ag:
AARON RODGERS:
Raiders (-300)
Jets (+200)
Bucs (14/1)
49ers (16/1)LAMAR JACKSON:
Falcons (+300)
Jets (+350)
Raiders (+450)
Bucs (+500)DEREK CARR:
Panthers (+140)
Saints (+150)
Jets (+300)
Bucs (+900)— Jaime Eisner (@JaimeEisner) February 14, 2023
All things considered, all those franchises have more than enough reasons to pursue a player of Jackson’s caliber.
The Falcons had Marcus Mariota and Desmond Ridder on their roster last season, and it became evident that neither of them is a starter at the NFL level.
Ridder is still young and could turn around to be a solid player, but the early returns were far from encouraging.
The NFC South will be up for grabs now that Tom Brady has retired, and the Falcons have enough draft capital to try and make a run at Jackson should he become available.
Notably, that would also do wonders for Kyle Pitts’ development, as Jackson usually feeds his tight ends and Pitts was perhaps the most misused player in the league last season.
NEXT: Cordarrelle Patterson Is Trying His Best To Recruit Free Agents
