NEWSLETTER
We’ve reached full tilt in the Lamar Jackson off-season chronicles as Jackson himself took to Twitter to discuss the details of his request for a trade from the Baltimore Ravens. He asked to be traded back on March 2nd, two weeks ahead of the free agency period as both sides are far apart when it comes to compensation.
However, the Ravens don’t appear to have given up on the possibility of retaining the QB, as discussed here by head coach John Harbaugh.
If Jackson decides to hold out or refuses to play for the Ravens next season it could get interesting. Let’s hope a resolution comes sooner than later for everyone involved whether it’s a contract agreement or a trade. Here’s a look at the five best landing spots for Jackson in terms of fit and need if a trade were to go down.
Washington Commanders
Can we get Terry McLaurin a QB, please? Right now the Commanders are heading into the season with a QB competition between sophomore Sam Howell and journeyman Jacoby Brissett. McLaurin has posted 1000+ receiving yards in each of the last three seasons with fantasy WR2 numbers but has the potential to be a WR1 if he was given a quality player under center. Washington also has plenty of complementary pieces in their offense with Johan Dotson, Curtis Samuel, and Dyami Brown in the WR room, along with Brian Robinson and Antonio Gibson in the backfield. With Eric Bienemy on board as the new offensive coordinator/assistant coach, this offense could produce some fantasy goodness, and adding Lamar Jackson just makes sense.
Indianapolis Colts
Indy has been looking for a solid QB since Andrew Luck walked out the door and Jackson would be an instant boost to this already talented roster. Similar to McLaurin above, Michael Pittman hasn’t finished above WR29 in half-PPR points per game and was buried by poor QB play in his first three seasons in the league. Jackson profiles as a solid fit for Shane Steichen’s offense, as he found success with Jalen Hurts, another highly mobile and explosive QB.
Atlanta Falcons
The fantasy football community would be ecstatic if the Falcons were to make a deal for Jackson, as scoring opportunities are just waiting to be unlocked in Atlanta. This team features a run-first plan particularly around the QB, as Marcus Mariota was sixth among QBs last year in rush attempts with 85. Sophomore WR Drake London and the TE tandem of Kyle Pitts and Jonnu Smith would certainly benefit from Jackson at the helm and the Falcons would become the favorites in arguably the NFL‘s weakest division, the NFC South.
New York Jets
Sure, the word on the street and around the globe is that the Jets will be trading for Aaron Rodgers but until it’s inked on paper, Jackson is still a possibility. Adding the 26-year-old would elevate an already talented offense, making their fantasy assets even more desirable. Along with last year’s rookie standout Garrett Wilson, New York also added former Packer Allen Lazard and Mecole Hardman from the Chiefs this offseason. Jackson’s presence could also help out TE Tyler Conklin’s fantasy value who’s shown flashes of starting TE productivity in the past. It’s a long shot, but if the Rodgers deal falls through, the Jets could highly benefit from trading for the five-year Raven.
Carolina Panthers
It seems highly likely that the Panthers are selecting a QB with the first overall pick in this year’s draft after trading with the Bears to get there, however, they could choose to add a veteran presence like Jackson, considering they did meet with Derek Carr this offseason. Stranger things have indeed happened in the NFL. Carolina added veteran receivers Adam Thielen and D.J. Chark, along with RB Miles Sanders, who’s coming off a working relationship with a similar QB in Philadelphia. It’s been a few years since anyone outside of Christian McCaffrey could be relied upon for fantasy football purposes, but adding Jackson could put them back on the fantasy radar.
