It’s official. Lamar Jackson no longer wants to be a Baltimore Raven.
Per his own recollection, the 2019 NFL MVP made that decision back on March 2, but he took his trade request public nearly four weeks later. The timing was not coincidental. After languishing through the start of free agency on the non-exclusive franchise tag, Jackson set up his trade request tweet specifically to capitalize on head coach John Harbaugh’s spotlight.
As the two-time Super Bowl winner addressed the media in Phoenix at the annual coaches’ meeting and backed Jackson as his presumptive QB1, the 26-year-old told the world he wanted out.
win the super bowl. You all 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
— Lamar Jackson (@Lj_era8) March 27, 2023
It’s another twist in a long-unfolding saga that began as contract talks two years ago and has split into a chasm between the two sides. Jackson reportedly turned down pricy contract extensions in search for a fully guaranteed deal similar to the one the Cleveland Browns gave Deshaun Watson despite his history of more than 20 accusations of sexual misconduct and what the league itself described as “predatory behavior.” Jackson denies that’s the case and can point to the franchise’s continued inability to surround him with playmakers as evidence he hasn’t been set up to thrive in recent years.
All we know for sure at this point is that the drama between these two is now messy and public. There are five resolutions to this impasse. Let’s break them down.