Monday was a rough one in Baltimore, and most are still shocked or recovering from the news that Lamar Jackson requested a trade from the Ravens on March 2.
It’s disappointing to say the least, especially looking back on what a likeable player Jackson was in his first few seasons with the team. Ava’s Tweet sums it up pretty well:
don’t txt pic.twitter.com/U7M287ne52
— Ava Krivosh (@avakrivosh) March 27, 2023
Jackson is a charismatic leader that the city fell in love with, but as Tony Lombardi explains below, that guy isn’t the same as he once was. In turn, his situation with the team has changed, as well.
Dov Kleiman highlights that Jackson is the 5th Ravens draft pick to request a trade in the last few seasons, which is not a great look for the organization:
Lamar Jackson is the 5th homegrown #Ravens player to request a trade from the team in the past four years.
OT Orlando Brown
WR Hollywood Brown
TE Hayden Hurst
S Chuck Clark
QB Lamar Jackson pic.twitter.com/XCVptaSGXI— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) March 28, 2023
My problem with this is that the situations for each player are different here. Sure, ideally the team would keep them all, but as RSR’s Adam Bonaccorsi walks us through, they were all unique.
This is such a bullshit argument.
2/4 wanted out bc they weren’t getting the snaps they wanted (Brown Jr vs Stanley, Hurst vs Andrews).
Holly was usage (still makes no sense). Lamar is strictly money demands.
Stop blaming the team like they are directly responsible, stooge. https://t.co/Q804bzgP0t
— AdamBMore (@AdamBMore) March 27, 2023
Moreover, as Jeff Zrebiec writes for The Athletic, Jackson’s request doesn’t really change much in all reality:
Ray Lewis once requested a trade from the Ravens, too.
Lamar Jackson going public with his trade request doesn't change much for the Ravens. But the situation feels different. This feels like two sides tired of each other and not wanting to compromise:https://t.co/T5qpAywl8H— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) March 28, 2023
It’s worth a read, but ultimately I do think Zrebiec is right – there is something off about this standstill between the team and Jackson. The two parties aren’t just at a crossroads. Instead, it feels like they’ve already decided to split. Well, according to his request, Jackson certainly has.
But I wonder if it is more of a monetary thing than one about who he’s playing with. If Jackson wants more weapons on offense, he might be getting one in Odell Beckham Jr.:
I'm told free agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr has arrived at the Biltmore with plans to talk to at least the #Ravens, per him.
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 28, 2023
Lombardi feels the move makes no sense for Beckham, and I tend to agree with him:
Keep seeing OBJ to the #Ravens tweets and while I’d love to see it for the right price, why would OBJ look to resurrect his career with a team that has such uncertainty at quarterback?
What am I missing? pic.twitter.com/WNYthHaTmy
— Tony Lombardi (@RSRLombardi) March 29, 2023
Regardless, here’s how Beckham thought it went:
Obj on meeting with #Ravens & connecting with other teams: “The love was there, good meeting…(Lot of) people and teams I bumped into.”
Eventually the free agent WR will become a big addition to a new team.
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 28, 2023
To me, it doesn’t sound like Beckham’s nearing a deal with the Ravens at all. Time will tell.
That said, having the Super Bowl winning WR join the fold in Baltimore would, as Kevin Oestreicher says, be a “needle mover:”
Odell Beckham Jr. would be a needle-moving move for the Ravens
A lot hinges on his health and Lamar Jackson too, but he would be a really solid get for Baltimore if it happens
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) March 28, 2023
Signing Beckham likely does require the Ravens holding onto Lamar Jackson, as Beckham simply wouldn’t play with Tyler Huntley or others, though. So, more accurately, it would be a “miracle” if Baltimore was able to sign him at this stage.
If we somehow end up with Lamar Jackson and Odell Beckham on the field together in Baltimore after everything that’s transpired this off-season, it’ll be the miracle we all deserve. Emphasis on the word miracle. https://t.co/wXRmDvURqs
— Ronald Toothe (@_QuoththeRavens) March 28, 2023
Things are looking bleak right now, but at the snap of a finger they could turn around. I’m still holding out hope that Jackson stays in Charm City, even if that is naïve.
To brighten things up I’ll completely change the subject. NFL players can now wear the number 0:
NFL owners just approved the proposal to allow players to wear Number Zero, I’m told.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 28, 2023
What do you think of it, and which Raven feels like a number 0 the most?
4 Responses
Eh, I think zero is fine if that’s the number they want to go with. Maybe next year they’ll change it to allow Roman numerals too. I never really considered OBJ as a legit option because he’s had the opportunity to come here before and didn’t.
I think the LJ situation just went sideways again. LJ thinks he ‘clapped back’ at the media about his injury concerns, when really he just confirmed what everyone was so concerned about. That he does get injured and when he does, he does not play injured. Evidently he’s not a team first guy either. Anyway, hope we draft a QB in rd 6 to replace LJ. His last name is cunningham and he has an agent.
Personally, I’d like 00 approved. Seems like a more positive number than 0.
Why does LJ have to deal with “the bottom line “ (1-3 playoff record; he’s not durable etc) when there are reasonable explanations? But the TEAM doesn’t have to. The BOTTOM LINE is that the homegrown players have been leaving. No explanations for LJ, none for the team. Bottom line-he has to play hurt and win playoff games. Bottom line-the team has been losing home grown talent, and now Bateman is also unhappy. So yes, the team has to eat that narrative and get it fixed.
I somewhat agree but there are many issues. The ownership/management is tied to Harbaugh. Harbaugh is here and has his own way of doing things-run first offense, deception and misleading, not totally trustworthy, reactive vs proactive, pass the buck kinda guy.
I am biased. I believe many of our problems are a result of Harbaugh, directly or indirectly. Many of the decisions made by the FO and Bisciotti are based on their relationship and input by Harbaugh. IMO there will continue to be issues as long as Harbaugh is here. I do believe he’s a good coach but sometimes the game passes you by and it’s time to move on.
We have a few more years of Harbaugh as head coach and if the team falters(especially with a different QB) then maybe we have change. Just my view on the whole situation.