The Lamar Jackson market remains a mystery but two surprise teams are reportedly considered in the mix around the league.
Days since Lamar Jackson was officially allowed to speak with NFL teams and potentially sign an offer sheet on the non-exclusive franchise tag handed out by the Baltimore Ravens, there’s been shockingly little movement on the former MVP. Sure, ideas have been floated about where he could go with teams like the Colts fitting the bill, but anything concrete has yet to happen.
Something has to budge sooner than later, though, especially given the fact that Jackson has yet to sign the franchise tender, meaning that he is not technically even under contract with the Ravens for the 2023 season either.
We might have some answers coming, though, especially with two new surprise teams apparently being in the mix for the quarterback.
During an appearance on SportsCenter, ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler noted that two teams that people around the league believe that the Minnesota Vikings and Tennessee Titans are in play for Lamar Jackson given their situations.
NFL rumors: Lamar Jackson in play for Vikings, Titans
In the case of the Vikings, here’s what Fowler reported executives’ sentiments on Minnesota’s potential interest in Jackson, via Bleacher Report.
“And even a wild card like Minnesota,” Fowler said discussing possible fits. “Kirk Cousins has one year left on his contract if they want to reestablish their identity there.”
As for the Titans, this is what Fowler had on them.
“They mention Tennessee, who just cleared some cap space,” Fowler said. “They have a new GM Ran Carthon, who’s working on the roster. They could use a running quarterback; they have experience with that in the past.”
Whereas many people were wondering which options were left for Lamar Jackson given the Jets’ pursuit of Aaron Rodgers, the Panthers, Texans and maybe the Colts looking to the draft, and then the Raiders content to bide time with Jimmy Garoppolo, perhaps it does make sense to look at teams such as the Vikings and Titans undergoing major roster changes and looking to move on from a veteran quarterback.
For the Vikings, they have made it clear that Kirk Cousins is in a prove-it type of situation as he won’t be getting another extension as in recent years. As the unofficial bar of acceptable but ceiling-limiting quarterback play, perhaps there is intrigue to go after a 26-year-old former MVP that could ignite a talent-laden offense featuring Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson and Dalvin Cook (for now, at least).
With the Titans, it’s hard to know what this team is planning for. Carthon has played a hand in essentially gutting holdovers on the roster from the old regime with Taylor Lewan, Robert Woods, Bud Dupree, many others and potentially even Kevin Byard all being cut. Ryan Tannehill is now in his mid-30s, Malik Willis looked woefully unready to be a starting quarterback and the offense is likely to suffer. Perhaps a Lamar Jackson-Derrick Henry pairing would jumpstart this perceived rebuild.
Whether or not Jackson ends up on the Vikings or Titans remains to be seen. But given the lack of news regarding the quarterback’s market, it’s impossible to rule them out as the first ones to make a move that would force action on the part of the Ravens and the quarterback.
