Latest NFL news could dramatically change Lions' draft strategy
The Lions could have a chance to land one of the NFL’s premier players.
It is no secret there have been struggles between the Baltimore Ravens and former MVP Lamar Jackson.
There have been multiple reports of offers from the Ravens to Lamar. Alas, nothing has come to fruition and Jackson played out the remainder of his contract this past season.
Well, another chapter has been added to the story after it was announced earlier today that the Ravens placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Lamar.
What does the non-exclusive franchise tag mean? Well, first and foremost it allows Lamar to negotiate with other teams, which gives him a little bit of say when it comes to his future and where he wants to go. Once a contract is agreed on, the Ravens are given a chance to match the offer. If they choose not to do so, the acquiring team receives Jackson and sends the Ravens two first-round draft picks.
If the Ravens choose to match the offer sheet, then Jackson stays in Baltimore.
If the deal is done before the draft, as long as the team trading for Lamar has their original first-round pick in the upcoming draft and 2024, the deal can be done.
If the deal was to come post-draft the team trading for Lamar would need their original first-round pick in 2024 and 2025.
The Lions have both packages.
Now, you may think the Lions should be committed to Jared Goff.
To that I say, it is not every day a former MVP is a potential option. If you have a chance to upgrade at the most important position in football, especially in a move that could leap frog you to compete for a division title; you should at the very least consider it.
Not only would it be an upgrade at the QB position the Lions could save money by moving on from Jared Goff. They would be saving as much as $20.975 million in cap room. Money that could easily be used towards a long-term deal with Lamar.
An offense of Lamar Jackson, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and D'Andre Swift is fun on paper, and with Aaron Rodgers potentially being on his way out of Green Bay; it might be an offense good enough to contend for a division title.
