It was about 9 months in the past when Lamar Jackson wanted to be traded from the Baltimore Ravens. The finest quarterback within the historical past of two perpetually linked franchises — the Ravens and the Cleveland Browns — was on the open market. Jackson is the one participant in addition to Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes to win an NFL MVP since 2017. There was no clamor for the companies of a participant that completed.
Jackson finally signed a 5-year, $200-plus million take care of the Ravens. On Christmas night time, they extinguished the pink sizzling San Francisco 49ers, 33-19. The 16-point margin of victory doesn’t inform your complete story of the sport. The Ravens intercepted the 49ers’ prime NFL offense 5 occasions and allowed factors on solely three possessions. Following a security on their first possession, the Ravens scored on seven consecutive drives. Jackson handed for 252 yards, two touchdowns and led his workforce in dashing.
His efficiency on Monday night time ought to surge him again to the highest of the MVP dialog. It was one in every of many video games by which he was in full management. On a discipline with two other potential MVP winners — Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey — Jackson was clearly the most effective participant.
A participant who might have been on any of the other 31 teams within the league, if one in every of them made a powerful push to get him. The Ravens initially put Jackson on the non-exclusive franchise tag after final season. In trade for 2 first-round picks, Jackson might have been acquired if the Ravens selected to not match a contract provide for him. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, not one of the other teams made an effort to go and get Jackson.
There have been a number of teams that made it public, in March, that they had no curiosity in him. That contains the Washington Commanders and Atlanta Falcons. Commanders head coach Ron Rivera and Falcons workforce proprietor Arthur Blank each gave statements that shut down any thought that their teams would have curiosity within the 2019 MVP, lower than per week after Jackson posted on Xwitter that he wanted to be traded. Both of these teams would have been among the many finest within the NFC with him behind middle.
Starting quarterback is arguably probably the most troublesome place to fill in your complete NFL. Yet, no workforce made an effort to pursue among the finest 5 on the planet. I’m gagging from the stench of collusion within the air, however it would by no means be investigated. Everyone ended up getting what they wanted.
Jackson signed a deal in keeping with the highest QBs within the NFL. That deal didn’t power the Ravens to make a market-shaking provide. The deal pays him extra yearly than what Deshaun Watson receives, however has nowhere close to the ensures. Watson’s deal is absolutely assured, and the rumor was that Jackson wanted the identical factor.
By Jackson signing a deal that paid made him the best paid quarterback within the NFL — $2 million extra per yr than Russell Wilson — Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert each signed offers over the summer time with little to no drama. They each make barely greater than Jackson, and the QB market was again on monitor.
With the common season coming to a detailed, the Ravens have the most effective report within the NFL. The Commanders traded away two of their finest gamers previous to the commerce deadline, and quarterback play is probably going going to value the Falcons an NFC South title that was extraordinarily winnable.
The NFL wins once more.
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