Despite being pegged as a longtime favorite to facilitate a trade, the Atlanta Falcons reportedly are not in on quarterback Lamar Jackson.
After the Ravens applied the non-exclusive franchise tag to Jackson on Tuesday, the cap-flushed Falcons immediately drew logical assumptions as a favorite to land the superstar quarterback should he actually be traded.
After all, how could they not be? The Falcons run one of the most run-heavy schemes in the NFL and have question marks at quarterback after signal caller Desmond Ridder only got a four-game sampling to close the 2022 season.
Acquiring Jackson would’ve ignited an excitement in the Falcons fandom it hasn’t felt since the 2016 season that ended in, er, 28-3.
Well, like many things in Atlanta, the dreams of victory were met with crushing realities. Multiple reports quickly threw water on the idea that the Falcons would be the ones to hypothetically send two first-round picks to Baltimore and give Jackson a massive contract.
The Atlanta Falcons will not be pursuing QB Lamar Jackson, per sources.
— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) March 7, 2023
Can add to @diannaESPN report… Falcons aren’t and haven’t been in on pursuing Lamar Jackson.
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) March 7, 2023
The Atlanta Falcons will not be involved in the Lamar Jackson contract situation, according to a source. It was fun while it lasted.
— Josh Kendall (@JoshTheAthletic) March 7, 2023
Also in regard to this, a source tells me that those rumors of meetings in Indianapolis between the Falcons and Ravens about Lamar Jackson were false.
No meetings occurred about Jackson between the two clubs. https://t.co/TSa2tXF30I
— Michael Rothstein (@mikerothstein) March 7, 2023
Sources have maintained the Falcons won’t be in the market for Ravens QB Lamar Jackson (as @diannaESPN said here). There was some speculation floating around at the combine, but I got that shot down pretty quick. https://t.co/oDVb0AZcYx
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 7, 2023
It’d be a quick exit for the Falcons in the Lamar Jackson sweepstakes, one that likely befuddles an entire NFL community that wonders when Atlanta actually regains any sort of prominence after years of lean.
The flurry of scoops around Atlanta’s plans to avoid the Jackson conversations supports the idea that the Falcons will either roll with Ridder and try to build out the team around him with their cap space and draft picks…or select a quarterback in April.
Picking eighth overall, the team would probably have to move up the draft board a bit to acquire a top talent. Sticking with Ridder and adding a veteran quarterback like Jacoby Brissett or Teddy Bridgewater to the mix feels like the most likely outcome.
If you’re as flummoxed as most are that the Falcons won’t even vaguely attempt a Jackson trade, consider these two ideas.
First, the team has been very vocal about its support of Ridder, who went 2-2 in his starting sample this winter. Atlanta owner Arthur Blank praised Ridder’s leadership and hyped up his promise.
Some pretty high praise from #Falcons owner Arthur Blank on QB Desmond Ridder
Via @AtlantaFalcons pic.twitter.com/K4Ky0UpL5n
— Miles Garrett (@MilesGarrettTV) February 9, 2023
It appears that, unless something dramatic changes in the Jackson situation, the Falcons are trying to give Ridder a chance to cement himself as the team’s starter. A quarterback in the 2023 NFL Draft could change their mind, but Ridder looked very solid and has the inside track.
The other big reason for the Falcons maybe trying a more conservative approach is how things have gone in the past.
The team paid $62 million last season to players not on the roster in dead cap. Huge contracts for former Falcons players like quarterback Matt Ryan, wideout Julio Jones, cornerback Desmond Trufant and linebacker Deion Jones put a strain on Atlanta’s financial maneuvering and partly led to the decay of the coach Dan Quinn/general manager Thomas Dimitroff years post-Super Bowl 51.
The Falcons appear to be wary of any major deals that could hamper their financial flexibility, which might also hint that they won’t be huge spenders on any one player when free agency kicks off next week.
For Falcons fans, not attempting a Jackson trade might be yet another mark of sorrow on the shelf, one exacerbated by last year’s utterly nonsensical attempt to trade for Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson.
reminder that the falcons were ready to give deshaun watson the keys to the city https://t.co/QeY8uipmUz
— Austin Gayle (@austingayle_) March 7, 2023
Post-Watson failure, Atlanta is betting that its slow-and-steady approach brings forth a fount of victories and a possible franchise quarterback in Ridder. While it’s admirable for a team to pace itself and be patient, it’s also a risk when you totally ignore a rare occurrence like Jackson’s non-exclusive franchise tag.
The Falcons already passed on Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields in the 2021 NFL Draft, which might end up being a huge mistake if Fields can improve his passing ability.
Could not pursuing Jackson support the idea that the team is being too conservative with its approach for the game’s most important position? Jackson’s injury history and desire for a fully guaranteed deal could give any team pause, but his generational ability speaks for itself.
For the Falcons, it’s a waiting game to see if they’re on the right track by staying the course, or if they’re potentially missing out on the opportunity of a lifetime by passing on a pursuit of Jackson.
