NFL Trade Rumors: Lamar Jackson to Falcons speculation picks up steam after reported combine talks

Could Lamar Jackson be traded to the Atlanta Falcons amidst securing a long-term deal?

According to senior NFL reporter Michael Lombardo, the Falcons have a serious interest in Jackson and their talks with the Ravens have progressed tremendously in Indianapolis.

Jackson will be tagged by the Ravens before the 4:00 PM deadline as the two sides couldn't reach a long-term deal.

The team may not be able to meet his contractual demands and seem to be using the non-exclusive tag to get two first-round picks from a team that will give him what he's looking for.

Atlanta was aggressive last season in trying to acquire Deshaun Watson.

They ultimately lost out when the Browns offered Watson a five-year $230 million fully guaranteed contract. A year later, they find themselves in the same situation where they can possibly acquire a franchise quarterback.

Jackson may be the better option of the two, as he won unanimous MVP in 2019, and has more playoff experience with a few victories.

The Atlanta Falcons will look for a new franchise quarteback if they land Lamar Jackson or not

Atlanta Falcons v Baltimore Ravens

Whether the Atlanta Falcons land Lamar Jackson or not, they'll be looking for a new franchise quarterback.

In the last off-season, the teams signed veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota, who started 13 games for the team and had a below average record of 5-8. He threw for 2,219 yards, 15 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. He was benched for the final four games of the season and was released by the team this off-season.

That's when rookie third-round pick Desmond Ridder stepped in. Ridder went 2-2 in the final four games of the season as the starter. He completed 63.5 percent of his passes while throwing for 708 yards and two touchdowns. He played alright, but the team wants a true franchise quarterback.

If they can't land Jackson, Atlanta could draft a quarterback as they hold the eighth overall pick in the draft. They could be aggressive and trade up to select one of the top QBs as this year's class is deep and has many QB-needy teams.