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Lamar Jackson legitimately seems to have appeared in his last game for the Baltimore Ravens as the 2023 NFL offseason plays out.
The two sides have failed every step of the way to agree to a long-term contract extension, resulting in the Ravens placing their non-exclusive franchise tag on Jackson. Frustrated with the Ravens' decision, the superstar quarterback officially requested a trade to a new team.
Several landing spots would make sense for Lamar Jackson if he is in fact traded this year. One team that has been among those most closely connected to NFL trade rumors for Jackson has been the New England Patriots. Young quarterback Mac Jones significantly regressed in his second year following a promising rookie season, so they could potentially be looking to upgrade their position.
According to a recent report, it's unlikely that the Patriots will be pursuing Jackson during the offseason. They are reportedly committed to sticking with Mac Jones for the upcoming season as they are confident he will continue to progress as a quarterback.
The Patriots' confidence in Jones likely comes from the fact that they invested a first-round pick in him in the 2021 NFL Draft. They are apparently unwilling to give up on him just yet, especially after hiring Bill O'Brien as their offensive coordinator this year.
With the Patriots allegedly out on Lamar Jackson, the future of the Ravens quarterback remains in limbo. He continues to seek a new landing spot, though he doesn't necessarily need to be traded to switch teams for the upcoming season as per the rules of the non-exclusive tag.
Lamar Jackson's non-exclusive franchise tag give him more freedom to leave the Ravens
The non-exclusive franchise tag allows Lamar Jackson to negotiate a new contract with any team during the 2023 NFL free agency period. The catch is that he's not free to sign with any team until the Ravens receive an opportunity to match any offer sheet he officially signs. If the Ravens choose to do so, they will be responsible for paying Jackson the terms of the new contract he negotiated with another team.
If the Ravens pass on matching Jackson's signed offer sheet, then he's free to sign with the team that offered it to him. In exchange for their superstar quarterback, the new team will have to send the Ravens two first-round picks in the NFL Draft as compensation. This means Jackson and the Ravens each have power in determining where he plays and how much money he will make.
