The NFL’s annual league assembly began off with some main fireworks on Monday morning and people fireworks had been supplied by somebody who’s not even on the assembly: Lamar Jackson.
The Ravens quarterback despatched shockwaves by means of the NFL when he revealed that he has requested a commerce out of Baltimore. Jackson made the announcement in a tweet that he despatched out at 10:48 a.m. ET, which is usually notable as a result of almost each head coach within the AFC was assembly with the media when Jackson’s tweet got here out.
There’s a coaches breakfast on the annual league assembly yearly the place members of the media can sit down with every head coach. The AFC portion of the breakfast was on Monday and most coaches had been accessible starting at 10:45 a.m. ET (in order that they had been already speaking when Jackson dropped his Twitter bomb).
One of the coaches who was speaking when Jackson tweeted out his commerce demand was new Colts coach Shane Steichen. The Colts are in dire want of a beginning quarterback and as you’ll be able to think about, the media did not waste any time asking Steichen about the potential for including Jackson. Although the media tried to pry some info out of Steichen, the Colts coach solely supplied a imprecise reply when requested in regards to the former NFL MVP.
“Lamar Jackson, you know what, we do our due diligence on every position, whether it’s through the draft or free agency, but I’ve got no update for you on that,” Steichen mentioned, through the Indianapolis Star.
OK, in order that’s not such an thrilling reply, however we did get one later within the day from Colts basic supervisor Chris Ballard. He was requested about Jackson on Monday afternoon and he supplied a solution that was way more intriguing.
“Anytime a special player is available, which he is, you’ve got to do the work,” Ballard mentioned, through ESPN.com. “I’m not gonna get into deep discussions on where it’s at or what we’re doing or what we might do, but what I’ll tell you is he’s a really good player, really special player. But you never know how any of this will work out.”
Ballard then primarily confirmed that the Colts are not less than tossing across the concept of going after Jackson.
“I think anytime, at that position, we have a chance to acquire a guy, you’ve got do your work on it to see if it’s doable,” Ballard mentioned.
So might the Colts really make a play for Jackson?
It would undoubtedly make some sense. For one, there is no assure that they are going to have the ability to land the man they need within the NFL Draft. With the Panthers now getting the highest choose and the Texans holding the second choose, the Colts are doubtless going to finish up with the third alternative of quarterbacks, which is not very best.
Also, it is price mentioning that the Colts by no means actually appeared to have any curiosity in buying and selling as much as No. 1.
“To move up there’s got to be a guy worthy of it,” Ballard mentioned on March 1, through NFL.com. “I don’t necessarily know if (trading up is) the right course of business,”
According a March 13 report from The Athletic, the Colts did not look to maneuver as much as the highest spot as a result of they did not really feel there was “a slam-dunk, sure-bet player at the top of this year’s draft.”
If you do not belief the draft class, that leaves you with two stable choices for 2023: Make a splash signing or tank by means of the season with hopes that you’re going to earn a excessive choose for 2024.
Colts proprietor Jim Irsay is not afraid of constructing splashy strikes. This group has acquired Philip Rivers, Matt Ryan and Carson Wentz over the previous 4 years. Although none of these strikes labored out, none of these gamers had been of their prime once they obtained to Indy, which is the place Jackson is.
We made an inventory of potential touchdown spots for Jackson and we have now the Colts at No. 1 as a result of it seems like a transfer that makes an excessive amount of sense. The Colts want a QB, they’ve the cap area and they might develop into the moment favourite within the AFC South in the event that they added Jackson, that are all the reason why this is likely to be a transfer that they ultimately make.
If the Colts do add Jackson, it is undoubtedly not going to be low cost. Under guidelines of the franchise tag, Indy may give him a suggestion sheet and if the Ravens do not match it, then Jackson will head to Indianapolis. Under that situation, the Colts must ship two first-round picks to Baltimore.
The different choice is a sign-and-trade. This can be the place the Colts work out a cope with Jackson and Baltimore. The Ravens would technically give Jackson the contract, then he would signal it and get shipped off to Indy. Under a sign-and-trade, the Colts won’t must give up two first-round picks — they must work out the precise phrases with the Ravens — however it doesn’t matter what the ultimate price would find yourself being, it might nearly definitely be a steep worth.
