The beginning of NFL free company on Wednesday noticed its share of frenzied exercise — quarterback Aaron Rodgers asserting his “intention” to play for the New York Jets led the way in which — however there was one notable exception.
The one information on Lamar Jackson was that there was no information. Until you rely the Ravens quarterback dancing round in some massive crimson boots in a video he posted to Instagram and teammate Marlon Humphrey saying on Twitter that none of his personal tweets about Baltimore’s signings or different free company strikes had something to do with Jackson.
“He's his personal agent and he undoubtedly not telling me something trigger he know I’ll tweet it,” Humphrey wrote.
Whereas Ravens backup quarterback Tyler Huntley’s future grew to become a bit of extra clear when he was given a right-of-first-refusal tender by Baltimore on Wednesday, solely continued hypothesis stays over Jackson’s negotiations with the Ravens or different groups. Nonetheless, strikes by different organizations (just like the Jets) helped present some readability on the place Jackson may find yourself apart from Baltimore.
Listed here are Jackson’s potential locations, by tiers:
Possible out of the working
Washington Commanders: After the Commanders launched Carson Wentz final month and Tyler Heinicke signed with the Atlanta Falcons on Tuesday, some questioned whether or not proprietor Dan Snyder was maybe occupied with making a run at Jackson. However Washington on Wednesday signed Jacoby Brissett to a one-year deal value as much as $10 million with $8 million assured, in line with ESPN. That provides them a veteran presence to go together with Sam Howell, a rookie final season, and former Georgia starter Jake Fromm. Coach Ron Rivera additionally informed NFL Community earlier this week “there isn't a push” to bid for Jackson.
Carolina Panthers: Likewise, Charlotte as soon as appeared like a possible touchdown spot. However the Panthers on Tuesday signed veteran Andy Dalton to a two-year, $10 million deal, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The Panthers additionally personal the No. 1 total choose on this April’s NFL draft after the Chicago Bears traded out of the highest spot in a blockbuster cope with Carolina final week and are in line to draft a quarterback.
San Francisco 49ers: Whereas an attractive situation for a group that reached final season’s NFC championship recreation, the 49ers’ greatest downside is that they're with no first-round choose in 2023 after buying and selling as much as choose quarterback Trey Lance third total in 2021. The Ravens may at all times work out a sign-and-trade that doesn’t embrace the 2 first-round picks they’re assured if Jackson indicators a suggestion sheet they usually don’t match it. However San Francisco doesn’t actually have a second-round choose this 12 months (their first choose isn’t till No. 100). Plus, there are wage cap points for the 49ers.
Las Vegas Raiders: Jimmy Garoppolo. Three years, $72.75 million. That’s all the reason wanted.
Houston Texans: Houston owns the second and twelfth total picks on this 12 months’s draft, which places it in place to draft a rookie quarterback reasonably than deal for Jackson. The Texans even have simply over $10 million in cap area.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tom Brady retired for good, leaving solely Kyle Trask and Blaine Gabbert because the Buccaneers’ quarterbacks. On Wednesday, they added Baker Mayfield on a one-year deal, in line with a number of stories. None of these three screams franchise quarterback. The issue? Tampa Bay is cap poor with simply over $2.3 million in area, the fourth lowest quantity within the NFL, per Over The Cap.
Wild playing cards
Miami Dolphins: Although Jackson grew up simply half-hour north of Exhausting Rock Stadium and nonetheless maintains ties to South Florida, Miami is one among a handful of groups that has stated it received’t be pursuing him. They, too, would not have a first-round choose this 12 months. Coach Mike McDaniel additionally believes present Dolphins starter Tua Tagovailoa “is the right match” for his system, in line with ESPN’s Jeff Darlington.
New England Patriots: The Patriots are additionally among the many groups on the checklist who've stated they don't plan to go after Jackson, per MassLive. Whereas he can be an unlimited improve over present starter Mac Jones, New England has extra urgent points, notably on its offensive line.
Tennessee Titans: Offensive line points are an issue in Tennessee, too, together with the group being in one thing of a rebuild. A scarcity of receivers may additionally go away Jackson uninterested. Plus, new common supervisor Ran Carthon has publicly supported incumbent Ryan Tannehill. And even when the Titans had been , it’s laborious to think about the Ravens wouldn’t match the provide sheet of a convention rival.
Detroit Lions: The Lions have the cap area (simply shy of $22 million, per Over The Cap), picks (two within the first spherical this 12 months) and a participant in broad receiver Jameson Williams who appreciated a tweet suggesting Detroit ought to carry Jackson to the Motor Metropolis. Additionally they had the league’s fifth-best offense in line with Soccer Outsiders’ DVOA with veteran Jared Goff on the helm. “We’re proud of Jared,” Lions common supervisor Brad Holmes stated on the scouting mix. “He’s our starter, however we have to add some items in that room total.”
Greatest likelihood to strike
Atlanta Falcons: The Falcons entered free company with greater than $62 million in cap area, the second most within the NFL. After a bevy of strikes, they nonetheless have greater than $38 million, in line with Over The Cap. However amongst these strikes was signing Heinicke, who now joins 2022 third-round choose Desmond Ridder within the quarterback room. Atlanta was additionally one of many groups reportedly not occupied with pursuing Jackson quickly after he was tagged by the Ravens. Nonetheless, they've the sources to take action in the event that they selected.
Indianapolis Colts: That brings us to one of the best group to probably land Jackson. The Colts launched quarterback Matt Ryan and agreed to commerce cornerback Stephon Gilmore on Tuesday to the Dallas Cowboys, creating further cap area (they presently have greater than $25 million). They haven't had a franchise-caliber quarterback since Andrew Luck introduced his sudden retirement in 2019, counting on one-year stopgaps akin to Brissett, Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz and Ryan. Indianapolis additionally personal the No. 4 choose on this 12 months’s draft, which it may use for a quarterback — if it believes one of many prime 4 is worthy of main the franchise. However the metropolis that when swiped Baltimore’s NFL group in the midst of the night time is now the group finest located to steal its celebrity quarterback and 2019 NFL Most Precious Participant.
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