Where will Lamar Jackson Play Next Season? Odds and Expert Predictions

by Sean Barnard - 2/16/2023

While Aaron Rodgers and Derek Carr may dominate the headlines, Lamar Jackson is the true prize of the potential quarterback class. The 26-year-old and former MVP took the season to bet on himself and prove he is worthy of the lucrative contract he desires. The Ravens and Jackson are still as far as $100 million apart, although allowing him to walk would set the franchise back a major way. The Ravens are 49-21 in games in which Jackson has played, and their entire offense has been built around his unique running ability and versatile play. While he is not without his flaws, with injury concerns at the top of the list, plenty of teams would be thrilled to get their hands on the Louisville product if he does hit the open market. Here is a look at the top odds of where Jackson could end up if he does leave Baltimore.

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Falcons +300

The Falcons rolled with third-round pick Desmond Ridder as their starting quarterback for the remainder of last season and will hold the 8th overall pick in the upcoming draft. Jackson is young enough to build around and a more surefire building block than any possible draft pick. However, Atlanta is still early in their rebuilding process. They hold over $56 million in cap space, with the potential to increase this by another $12 million if they elect to release Marcus Mariota. The Falcons can match whatever number Jackson seeks, although it is surely a step back in terms of his chances of contending. If money is his main motivating factor, Atlanta is a fair landing sport for Jackson.

Jets: +350

Add Jackson to the Jets' current roster, and they would have been a playoff team last season. New York had a top-five defense in the NFL last season and still managed to win seven games despite the poor play of Zach Wilson -- who was relegated to the bench by the end of the year. The franchise seems to have lost complete faith in the former second-overall pick and has switched its attention to finding a quarterback elsewhere. Jets owner Woody Johnson has publicly discussed the need for a quarterback and called adding a veteran as the missing piece for their franchise. New York would need to jump through some salary cap hoops to make a deal possible, but the bright lights of New York could be an appealing situation for Jackson to join.

Raiders +450

Following the divorce with Derek Carr, it is crystal clear the Raiders will be in the market for a quarterback. Las Vegas has the third-most cap space in the NFL and an owner that is not afraid to make a splash. It would take a serious falling out with the Ravens for Jackson to become available, with many speculating that Baltimore will franchise tag the quarterback and trade him rather than let him walk. There has not been a ton of traction connecting Jackson and the Raiders, with much more attention being given to their chase for Aaron Rodgers. However, Jackson is significantly younger. And as they look to swing for the fences, it cannot be counted out. Given the certainty in which they moved on from Carr, they must have a plan in place, so expect the Raiders to be active this offseason.

Buccaneers +500

The Buccaneers will be looking for the heir to the throne of Tom Brady after the future Hall of Famer called it a career following this season. Tampa Bay’s 2021 Super Bowl championship is still fresh in everyone’s mind, and plenty of pieces are in place. The offensive weapons of the Buccaneers are much more talented than anything Jackson has worked with in Baltimore. However, the same hurdles to pry Jackson from the Ravens are still in play. Tampa Bay has a solid amount of cap space to work with, and Jackson would be a much more appealing option at quarterback than their current depth chart of Blaine Gabbert and Kyle Trask. The Buccaneers are a nice balance of win-now, new opportunity, and a chance for Jackson to further unleash his arm, if this is a narrative he wants to continue fighting.

Patriots: +750

Another team familiar with dominating on the ground is the New England Patriots. They seemed to find their stride early in the season when leaning on their run-heavy attack. The saying goes that ‘when you have two quarterbacks, you have none,’ and that is the situation the Patriots find themselves in. Mac Jones regressed in his second season, and having Bailey Zappe looking over his shoulder did not help matters. Jackson is a much more solidified option and a weapon that could change the outlook for New England. While they would need to make some adjustments, the Patriots are flexible with their cap situation and could find a way to bring him on board if the opportunity is available. Jackson is far from Tom Brady but could be the long-term option they are looking for.

Other Odds:

Panthers: +900

49ers: +1200

Commanders: +1200

Dolphins: +1200

Saints: +1200

Titans: +1200

Packers: +2000

Texans: +3300

The Pick:

It is difficult to find much value at all on the board, as all signs seem to point toward Jackson returning to Baltimore. However, if the relationship is severed beyond what can be fixed, give the Jets the edge in this category. They are sure to be aggressive in pursuit of their new quarterback, and Jackson will be near the top of the list. Jackson would immediately elevate them to true contenders and give the Jets their most talented starter of this decade. Ensure there is a refund if he stays with the Ravens before placing it, but the Jets is the best pick of the bunch if he does leave.

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Start:	November 22, 2024 @ 8:00 PM
Expert:	Raphael Esparza (VSI)
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Where will Lamar Jackson Play Next Season? Odds and Expert Predictions

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