ESPN predicts trade that would send Lamar Jackson to the depths of NFL hell
This would be absolutely depressing to watch unfold.
The Baltimore Ravens’ 2025 season ended with a major thud, and sweeping follow soon after.
John Harbaugh and his long-tenured staff are out the door, and a new regime will take over once the Ravens make their final decision. So far, there isn’t much smoke around a certain candidate, but there’s obviously still plenty of time to make a solid hire.
More change might be on the way, too. Somehow, speculation has started to swirl around Lamar Jackson’s future in Baltimore, and it’s gotten to the point that ESPN recently predicted the two-time NFL MVP will be traded to the Las Vegas Raiders during the offseason.
It’s not just ESPN predicting it, either. It’s “industry sources,” which constitutes NFL execs, scouts, and coaches, per insider Jeremy Fowler. That holds a lot more weight than an employee simply spouting something out for content purposes.
“This potential pairing has made its way through the rumor mill, and multiple people I spoke with who track such things used their one bold prediction in this exercise to designate Jackson a Raider.
“From chemistry issues with the previous coaching staff to concerns about his availability, Jackson’s relationship with the Ravens does not seem to be in the best spot. Baltimore probably realizes life with a two-time MVP is better than life without, which would mean a big contract offer is coming. But this is a situation to monitor, and how Jackson hits it off with the new head coach feels significant.” – Jeremy Fowler, ESPN
The thought of Lamar Jackson in Las Vegas is depressing
Nothing good has happened to the Raiders since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers destroyed them in Super Bowl XXXVII, nearly 24 years ago. The franchise has been dysfunctional at best and has failed to put a winning product on the field, aside from two seasons in 2016 and 2021.
You read that right — the Raiders have yielded just two winning seasons since 2003. In fact, they own the NFL’s second-worst win percentage at .351%, thanks to their 131-242 record over this span. Only the Cleveland Browns fare worse at .336% and a 125-247 record.
Not even Tom Brady has been able to apply his magic touch, and there’s no reason to believe things would change with Jackson at the helm. It’s nothing against Jackson, who is undeniably one of the best quarterbacks in the game, either.
It’s the Raiders, who just can’t get out of their own way. And right now, the Raiders’ offense is one of the worst units in the NFL. Sure, Brock Bowers has shown he can be a dominant player, but that’s about the only proven playmaker on that side of the ball. Ashton Jeanty is the next man up, but even he had his ups and downs in 2025. On top of that, the offensive line is a mess, and the receiver room is lackluster, at best.
They’re also without a head coach. It’s a total pit, right now, and this hypothetical trade would actually hurt the NFL. I mean, one of its best players going to an irrelevant, dysfunctional franchise that no one cares about? That’s a recipe for ratings disaster, and the league knows it.
The good news is the Raiders would have over $80 million in cap room and a slew of draft picks, including the No. 1 overall selection, to help boost the roster, but we all know even that’s not guaranteed to work if the resources are applied.
How many times have we seen teams “win the offseason,” just to go belly-up and have a bad year? When considering the Raiders’ reputation, that’s certainly a possibility. Actually, it’s a likely possibility.
Bold predictions are always fun, but this would be a nightmare for Jackson and NFL fans everywhere (well, outside of the AFC North). Let’s just hope Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti gets Jackson’s new deal done before March, as he intends, so all this can quickly go away.
Second level of NFL hell is the QB competition in the AFC West
Jackson is a competitor who will take on any challenge, but it’s easy to see why the second level of NFL hell would be playing in the AFC West.
Bo Nix, Patrick Mahomes, and Justin Herbert are one of the toughest QB trios in a division. The only division that boasts similar firepower at QB is the NFC West, where Matthew Stafford, Sam Darnold, and Brock Purdy reside.
Football is all about overcoming obstacles and perseverance, but damn, going to the Raiders and having to deal with the above trio twice a year (six times in all) is a lot for anyone, even a superstar like Jackson.
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