Aside from the drama surrounding Aaron Rodgers, there is hardly any other topic in the NFL in recent weeks than the Lamar Jackson file. The latest escalation: the quarterback has now requested a trade. What are the possible scenarios between now and the start of the season?

For two years now, the Baltimore Ravens have been in negotiations with their franchise quarterback Lamar Jackson. However, these have been unsuccessful, so Jackson has announced his departure from the Ravens.

How long have the Ravens been in negotiations with Jackson?

As the 2018 first-round pick, the Baltimore Ravens have been allowed to negotiate with Lamar Jackson since March 2021. With the playmaker being named the 2019 MVP, there’s also no question that they’ve been doing so since then.

Why can’t Jackson and the Ravens come to an agreement?

According to media reports, the side is demanding a fully guaranteed contract from Jackson for a total of around $200 million. Apparently they want to get a similar or even better contract than Deshaun Watson, who is making $230 million over five years with the Cleveland Browns.

However, the Ravens don’t want to pay him that. Not only because of his playing style, which is very taxing on his body, but because of his injury history. In the last two years, he missed a total of nine games this season The franchise is apparently afraid that Jackson’s body is already wearing out.

Why did Jackson request a trade?

“The Ravens have no interest in locking up my value contractually, so I’ve requested a trade,” Lamar Jackson tweeted most recently, officially announcing for the first time his intention to leave the Baltimore franchise.

However, that tweet raises questions. “Jackson does not have to request a trade,” NFL insider Ian Rapoport confirmed. “With the non-exclusive franchise tag, he is free to negotiate with any team.” Rather, this tweet apparently served pure symbolism. Jackson, or rather his social media manager, apparently deliberately put the post up just as Ravens head coach John Harbaugh was speaking at the coaches and owners meeting in Phoenix.

Do the Ravens have to let Lamar Jackson go?

No, because of the franchise tag, the Ravens have the rights to Jackson through the 2023 season. He is allowed to negotiate with other teams, but Baltimore must be informed if a contract offer is made. They then have a so-called matching right, meaning they can match him salary-wise to avoid a departure.

If they decide against it, the receiving team owes the Ravens the first-round pick of the next two drafts. So 2023 and 2024, or 2025 if necessary, should that happen after this year’s draft.

Which teams have interest in Lamar Jackson?

After the disagreement between Jackson and the Ravens became public, several teams proactively announced they had no interest in signing him. Among them were the Miami Dolphins and the Atlanta Falcons.

The Indianapolis Colts seem the most likely. Their quarterback position is vacant and they have been searching in vain for a playmaker to pull the strings of the offense for more than one season since 2017.

What happens if Jackson can’t find a taker?

If no team can be found willing to pay the amount Lamar Jackson is asking for, he could sign the franchise tag with the Ravens and would still be fully guaranteed $32.4 million for 2023. He would then be a free agent in 2024.

However, Jackson could also refuse to sign his tag, but then he can’t play for anyone in 2023 either and the Ravens wouldn’t owe him any money. Theoretically, he would have until week ten to sign the franchise tag.

In the extreme case, the Ravens could even franchise tag him a second time, then the story would start all over again in twelve months. However, a player can only be tagged a maximum of two times.

The likelihood of Jackson sitting out two years, however, is more than slim. Just as low as the likelihood that the Ravens would just let him go without compensation.