The Baltimore Ravens may be without Lamar Jackson for the rest of the season after his thumb injury against the Buffalo Bills, but there still seems to be uncertainty about what his timeline could be. Nonetheless, Jackson has once again missed several games this season, and that number is only going to continue to grow as the weeks go on.
Now, there is speculation on whether Jackson has played his last game for the Ravens, and though it may be too early to tell, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano think the team may have to consider trading him at some point in the future.
“I'm pumping the brakes on the ‘Lamar played his last down in Baltimore' talk for now,” Fowler wrote. “He's under contract in 2027. But the Ravens must at least now consider life without him. They had a chance to extend him last offseason, and it didn't happen — either because he didn't want to sign or they didn't make him an irresistible offer. Both sides eventually need to figure out what they want out of their immediate future together.
“Yeah, if they get to next spring and still can't get a deal done, they are simply going to have to consider trading him,” Graziano wrote. “The no-franchise tag clause in his contract gives him incredible leverage and means he has no reason to sign an extension with Baltimore that he doesn't absolutely love.
“If nothing happens before March 2028, Jackson would be an unrestricted free agent with at least two MVP awards on his résumé. And the no-trade clause means he could decide his team.”
It seems like the bottom line is if the Ravens can't come to a contract extension next offseason with Jackson, they may have to look to trade him. If not, there's a chance he walks the season after, and the Ravens won't get anything for him.