The Lamar Jackson sweepstakes just got a whole lot more interesting following the latest NFL news. At the very least, the news made the conversation feel a whole lot more real for teams like the Houston Texans and other QB-needy franchises around the league.

It all started with a Monday morning tweet from the former MVP quarterback in which Jackson revealed he requested a trade from the Baltimore Ravens early in March. 

The tweet was posted just as Ravens HC John Harbaugh started his press conference in the NFL owners' meetings.

"As of March 2nd, I requested a trade from the Ravens organization," wrote Jackson in the tweet. You can read his full message below. 

in regards to my future plans. As of March 2nd I requested a trade from the Ravens organization for which the Ravens has not been interested in meeting my value, any and everyone that’s has met me or been around me know I love the game of football and my dream is to help a team

— Lamar Jackson (@Lj_era8) March 27, 2023

Although unsurprising, it's a major development that sends a message throughout the league. Suddenly, it's not just about getting the right contract offer from the Ravens. It's about Lamar wanting out.

"I'm getting ready for Lamar," Harbaugh told reporters when asked about the tweet. "When Lamar gets back onboard that train, he's fully capable of jumping on full speed."

But even if Harbaugh sounds optimistic about Jackson's future, the truth is it's never been blurrier. 

"I don't have a crystal ball," added Harbaugh. "I love Lamar Jackson."

If the Texans are interested (and why wouldn't they be?), they could hold a major advantage over almost every other NFL team in a hypothetical bidding war. 

They hold the No. 2 overall pick. If the Ravens seriously consider offers, a chance at one of the best quarterbacks in this year's NFL Draft class won't be an overlooked asset.

Of course, Houston would also have to make the financials work. Jackson has been asking for a fully guaranteed deal just like Deshuan Watson got from the Cleveland Browns.

Is the Texans' front office willing to go that far for Jackson? 

We'll find out. But if you want to talk about a unique opportunity to land a franchise quarterback for years to come, this is it. It'll be very intriguing to see how NFL teams react to Lamar's tweet.