The Lamar Jackson trade conversation is heating up again, and this time, it might be different.
Multiple NFL executives have told reporters they expect the Ravens star quarterback to formally request a trade if contract negotiations continue to stall. The Patrick Mahomes extension last week put Lamar’s contract situation into stark relief, and the Ravens are reportedly nowhere near matching the kind of money he is now worth on the open market.
NFL insider Jason La Canfora reported Monday that Lamar left minicamp without progress on a new deal. The Ravens used cap flexibility to extend defensive end Trey Hendrickson recently instead of prioritizing the Lamar negotiation. That decision did not sit well in the quarterback’s camp.
Let me explain why this is so dangerous for Baltimore. Lamar has two years left on his current deal. He is a two-time MVP. He has averaged 4,000 total yards over his career. He just turned 29 in January. The Ravens have built their entire offensive system around him for seven years.
If he asks out, you cannot replace him. There is no Lamar Jackson sitting on the Ravens bench.
The Mahomes deal is the pressure point. Mahomes is now making $63 million a year. Joe Burrow is making $55 million. Jared Goff is making $53 million. Lamar Jackson is making $52 million. The Ravens cannot pay him less than Goff with a straight face. Either they bump him up to $60 million plus per year, or he asks out.
The trade angle is complicated. Lamar has a no-trade clause. He would need to approve any destination. The list of teams he would consider is short. New York, Washington, Atlanta, and Pittsburgh have all been mentioned in various rumor pieces. Some reports say he has interest in playing closer to family in South Florida, which puts Miami in play.
The compensation would be enormous. Two first-round picks at minimum. Possibly three. Possibly a young defensive player. Possibly a contract dump. The Ravens would not give him up cheaply, and Lamar’s camp would only approve deals to teams ready to compete immediately.
The Ravens history matters here. Baltimore drafted Lamar in 2018 and turned him into a star. They survived the 2023 trade request standoff and got him to sign a five-year extension. They have been transparent about wanting him long term. The question is whether they are willing to pay the price tag the market now demands.
Some around the league believe this is all theater. The Ravens and Lamar will figure out a deal eventually. The history is too deep. The on-field success is too strong. Why would Lamar leave the only NFL home he has known?
Other executives are more skeptical. They point to how badly the Ravens have managed the negotiation. They point to the Hendrickson signing as a signal that ownership is prioritizing pieces around Lamar rather than Lamar himself. They point to Lamar’s recent social media activity, which has been quieter than normal.
The next two months will tell. The Ravens have until late July to make the kind of contract offer that keeps Lamar happy. If they do not, expect the rumors to escalate fast through August.
For Baltimore fans, this is the nightmare scenario. The Ravens have not been a true Super Bowl contender without Lamar at quarterback in seven years. Losing him would set the franchise back a decade.
This is the most important offseason in Baltimore Ravens history. The clock is ticking.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
