Category: Around the North

Around the North: Turmoil and frustrations erupt in Baltimore

Tensions are building in Baltimore.

The Lamar Jackson saga with the Baltimore Ravens continues to heat up with Jackson’s teammate taking to Twitter to voice his displeasure. After GM Eric DeCosta was asked about struggles figuring out the wide receiver room at the scouting combine Bateman clapped back.

He voiced displeasure about how all the blame is put on the quarterback and wide receivers saying that blame should be adequately placed. He talked about the organization not playing to players’ strengths and how he was just tired of blame only being put on players. It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out but tensions are high for the Browns’ division rival.

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Around the North: Lamar Jackson wants Deshaun Watson money

The Ravens and their quarterback remain far apart.

Last offseason, the Cleveland Browns gave quarterback Deshaun Watson a record-setting contract in both annual money and guaranteed money. And now that deal is influencing negotiations between the Baltimore Ravens and Lamar Jackson. As they continue to attempt to work out a new deal as he is set for free agency, Jackson wants the same deal that Watson got from the Browns. And the Ravens appear to be unwilling to give it to him at this point in the process.

Here is what the Ravens have to consider, however: if they do not want to give Jackson that amount of money, someone will. And maybe that is okay with them as they can tag and trade him for a large sum of draft picks and assets.

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Around the North: Insider believes a Lamar Jackson trade has never been more likely

Will the Ravens be forced to move Lamar?

The Lamar Jackson saga in Baltimore continues as the quarterback is set to be a free agent next month. Early reports have already surfaced about the team intending to use the franchise tag on Jackson before free agency starts. Follow-up reports seem to indicate that after the tag is placed the team will trade the former MVP.

ESPNs Jeremy Fowler and Jamison Hensley are reporting about this possibility.

“If there is no compromise, the possibility of the Ravens trading [Lamar] Jackson … has never been more likely.”

This would be good news for Browns fans if he leaves the division and will be an interesting story to follow.

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Around the North: Did the Ravens consult QB Lamar Jackson on Todd Monken hiring?

Did the Ravens consult their franchise quarterback on their offensive coordinator hire?

As we continue to monitor news around the AFC North, there is a new development between the Baltimore Ravens and their starting quarterback Lamar Jackson. As the Ravens have hired former Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Todd Monken, there seems to be some indication that Jackson was not involved in the process.

According to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, the Ravens “did not fully integrate” Jackson into the hiring process. However, the Baltimore representative for The Athletic, Jeff Zrebiec, has stated that Jackson was “given multiple opportunities to provide input.”

So either the Ravens did not bring Jackson in, or they allowed him to participate and he passed it up. Either way, it appears the hiring of Monken did not involve a ton of input from Jackson.

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Around the North: Ravens hire former Browns OC Todd Monken to same role

The Ravens have their new offensive coordinator

The AFC North division rival Baltimore Ravens have their new offensive coordinator. After parting ways with Greg Roman, the Ravens have elected to hire Todd Monken to run their offense. The former offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns has spent the last three seasons with the Georgia Bulldogs, winning back-to-back national championships in that span at the college level.

Before the Browns, Monken operated a top-ten offensive unit with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the NFL level as well. An air raid guru, expect the Ravens to add more verticality into their passing game in 2023 (which will require quite the overhaul in their wide receiver room).

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Around the North: NFL Insider reiterates possibility Lamar Jackson leaves Baltimore

The Ravens are saying he will be back but will it actually happen?

Over the weekend a report from NFL Network came out that the Baltimore Ravens will franchise tag quarterback Lamar Jackson if a long-term deal can’t be agreed upon. In that same report head coach John Harbaugh said he believed there was a 200% chance Jackson will be with the team in 2023. However, on the Pat McAfee show on Monday, Ian Rapoport said he isn’t so sure that is true.

It will be interesting to follow this story in the offseason but if Lamar leaves the division it’s a win for the Cleveland Browns. Finding a franchise quarterback is hard and replacing one quickly is nearly impossible if you let him walk.

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Around the North: Cardinals HC gig down to Bengals DC Lou Anarumo and Jonathan Gannon

The Cardinals are down to two finalists, and there are implications in Cleveland regardless.

The Arizona Cardinals are down to two finalists for their head coaching gig, and both have implications for the Cleveland Browns. Between Lou Anarumo, the defensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals, and Jonathan Gannon, the Cardinals may be ready to name their next head coach as early as tonight. If Anarumo is the choice for the Cardinals, then a rival of the Browns loses a top-notch defensive coordinator.

If Gannon is the choice, then the Browns may lose their quarterbacks coach as Drew Petzing is rumored to be a top choice to become Gannon’s offensive coordinator. Regardless, this is a situation to monitor closely.

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Around the North: Will the Ravens trade Lamar Jackson?

Has the former MVP played his last snap in Baltimore?

NFL Network is reporting that the AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens will use the franchise tag on former MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson if an extension cannot be reached. Earlier this offseason there were reports that the two sides were at least $100 million apart in negotiations.

“The Baltimore Ravens will place the franchise tag on quarterback Lamar Jackson if the sides cannot agree to a long-term deal in the coming weeks — and there is a possibility other teams could tempt Baltimore to trade the former NFL MVP for a windfall of draft picks, per sources.” -NFL Network Report

Very interesting that the possibility of a tag and trade is being mentioned by a major news outlet. This starts to give teeth to the idea that Jackson could end up somewhere other than Baltimore next season. However for now the team is publically saying all the right things.

“Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said there was a “200% chance” that Jackson stays in Baltimore and general manager Eric DeCosta said they were excited to restart negotiations, even after Jackson missed the end of a second consecutive season because of injury.” -NFL Network

This is something for Browns fans to keep an eye on as a division rival may push reset on their quarterback situation this offseason.

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Around the North: Eric Bieniemy ‘remains a prime candidate’ for the Ravens

The Ravens do not appear to be winding down their search for a new offensive coordinator.

As the Kansas City Chiefs prepare to take on the Philadelphia Eagles this weekend, they may have to prepare to land a new offensive coordinator as well. The contract of Eric Bieniemy is set to expire after the Super Bowl, and according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, he is considered a “prime candidate” to land the same role with the Baltimore Ravens.

They have also interviewed the likes of former Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Byron Leftwich, Brian Angelichio, and Dave Canales for the role. The AFC North continues to turn over coaches, and we may have more to follow as well.

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Around the North: Ravens and Lamar could be $100M off in contract talks

Will the division rival have a new QB in 2023?

The Cleveland Browns gave quarterback Deshaun Watson an unprecedented amount of guaranteed money, and that may impact how other teams handle QB contracts. Lamar Jackson of the division rival Baltimore Ravens has finished his rookie deal and is looking for a massive extension. Fans can understand why the onetime league MVP would want to be paid what he thinks he is worth.

But according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the two sides are nowhere close in negotiations. Fowler suggests that they could be as much as $100 million apart in the negotiations. So now the questions are: Which side caves first, and will the Ravens be in search of a new franchise quarterback this offseason?

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