On Tuesday, the Baltimore Ravens gave Lamar Jackson the opportunity to negotiate with suitors by applying a non-exclusive franchise tag to their quarterback.
Some of the NFL teams most in need of a QB are reportedly not interested in it.
According to numerous reports, the Washington Commanders, Las Vegas Raiders, Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers are among the teams not expected to achieve the 2019 league MVP. Here are reports from these camps:
However, Dianna Russini reports that the situation with the Raiders is not final.
Meanwhile, the New York Jets are reportedly relentlessly pursuing Aaron Rodgers. Even with diverging reports about the Raiders, this represents a significant portion of the league’s teams that don’t have a clear answer for a quarterback next season. Also not on the Jackson list are the Miami Dolphins, who are not going to leave Tua Tagovailoa. This was reported by ESPN correspondent Jeff Darlington..
All of these reports were published hours after the Ravens applied the non-exclusive franchise tag. The “non-exclusive” notation is key. The franchise-exclusive tag would have prevented Jackson from negotiating with other teams and cost the Ravens a projected $45.2 million next season.
The non-exclusive tag costs the Ravens $32.4 million but leaves Jackson open to negotiations with fans. If he signs an offer he likes, Baltimore will have the option of accepting him or letting Jackson go in exchange for two first-round draft picks. According to Sportzshala Sports’ Charles Robinson, the Ravens and Jackson remain far apart as Jackson seeks something like Deshawn Watson’s fully guaranteed $230 million Cleveland deal.
But it looks like the market to go after Jackson with a lucrative contract plus two first-round picks is tepid in some cases — at least right after his conditional availability. The Raiders don’t have a clear answer to the quarterback’s question after Derek Carr’s release. The Falcons are still looking for an answer to the post-Matt Ryan era. The Panthers are in a similar position as the quarterbacks are in limbo following the end of Cam Newton’s career at Charlotte.
The Commanders are ready to hand over the keys to 2022 newcomer Sam Howell after the release of Carson Wentz. Head Coach Ron Rivera not tied to it. But it looks like Jackson’s not on the table.
Just because these teams aren’t really in Jackson’s market doesn’t mean it dried up as soon as it opened up. Teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Indianapolis Colts, and Tennessee Titans have quarterback questions of their own and might be interested in pursuing Jackson.
But with the franchise deadline passed, Jackson remains one of the most intriguing stories of the offseason.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
