The quarterback position could have some major movement this offseason, with a few huge names possibly changing teams either via free agency or trades. One of those names happens to be one of the elite players at the position: Lamar Jackson.
The chances that the Baltimore Ravens will let Jackson walk as a free agent are slim to none, as NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports the team plans to use the exclusive rights franchise tag to retain him. But what if things go south? Maybe Jackson decides to hold out in an attempt to push for a fully guaranteed contract similar to the one the Cleveland Browns gave Deshaun Watson. As we have all learned over the last few years, nothing is off the table in the NFL these days.
Top Five Fantasy Landing Spots: Aaron Rodgers | Jimmy Garoppolo | Saquon Barkley | Tony Pollard | JuJu Smith-Schuster | Miles Sanders | Derek Carr
So, what if Jackson forces the Ravens’ hand and pushes the team to trade him? Even if it’s unlikely, nothing in the league is impossible. If a deal happens, here’s five teams that have a need at quarterback or could look to upgrade and would be interesting fantasy landing spots for Jackson. Let’s start things off in Las Vegas.
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Las Vegas Raiders
Imagine Jackson wearing Silver & Black and throwing passes to Davante Adams, Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow? And if the Raiders retain pending free agent Josh Jacobs, this would be a very fantasy friendly offense. I think the team landing Aaron Rodgers is a much likelier scenario, but Jackson playing in Sin City would be fun to watch. Coach Josh McDaniels had a running quarterback in Cam Newton in New England and Tim Tebow in Denver, so the transition could be smooth.
New York Jets
The Jets are now looking to add a veteran quarterback, and much of their fan base wants Rodgers. But if Jackson becomes an option via trade, the Men in Green will have a lot of interest. The team has an up-and-coming offense with Breece Hall, Garrett Wilson and Elijah Moore on the roster, and adding Jackson would make the Jets a serious contender. New offensive coordinator Nathanial Hackett hasn’t had a mobile quarterback like Jackson, but he’d still remain a top-notch option.
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons have the second-most salary cap money available and three picks in the first three rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft, including the No. 8 overall selection. Jackson would obviously be a huge upgrade over Desmond Ridder, and his presence in the lineup would improve the value of young offensive players Tyler Allgeier, Drake London and Kyle Pitts. Heck, we could see Pitts make a major move up in rankings since Jackson loves throwing to his tight end. Atlanta would also become an instant NFC South favorite as a result of this "fantasy" move.
Chicago Bears
I know, the Bears have Justin Fields on a rookie contract. So, why would they trade for a quarterback who’s going to cost them a fortune? Hear me out. Chicago has the most available cap space and three picks in the first three rounds of the NFL draft, including No. 1 overall. Dealing Fields and draft capital to the Ravens could get a deal done and would bring the Bears a franchise quarterback. With all of their free cap space, they could also sign (and draft) plenty of weapons for Jackson.
Tennessee Titans
The Titans could decide to part ways with Ryan Tannehill, and their decision to play Joshua Dobbs late last season tells you they have very little faith in 2022 rookie Malik Willis. So, what if the team decided to deal for Jackson and pair him and Derrick Henry in the same backfield? That would be a ton of fun to watch. With a young receiver in Treylon Burks and tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo also on the roster, Tennessee could have an increasingly valuable offense in fantasy land.
Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on Sports Illustrated and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. Click here to read all his articles here on SI Fantasy. You can follow Michael on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram for your late-breaking fantasy news and the best analysis in the business to help you win a fantasy championship!
