NFL Open Thread: Who Needs Lamar? edition
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Remember when the presumptive MVP was a restricted free agenet, and teams with plenty of offensive talent but no NFL-caliber QB were like “nah, we’re good”?
That was a marked departure from a public statement he made in March, when he said, “I requested a trade from the Ravens organization for which the Ravens has not been interested in meeting my value. … I had to make a business decision that was best for my family and I.” But even during Jackson and Baltimore’s month-and-a-half-long standoff, it still seemed far-fetched that the former MVP would end up somewhere else. First, because Baltimore had the right to match any offer a team made for Jackson. And second, because no teams stepped up to the plate. In fact, a handful of QB-needy teams, including the Falcons, Raiders, Commanders, and Panthers, were almost immediately reported to not be interested in signing the star, for a variety of reasons.
Some said it was because of the cost of a potential deal (the money, plus two first-round picks that would have gone to Baltimore). Falcons owner Arthur Blank cited concerns over Jackson’s durability. At his end-of-season press conference earlier this month, Blank was asked whether the team had made a mistake not going after Jackson.
“I don’t think so,” Blank said. “I mean, it’s easy to say ‘yes’ given his year, and he’s obviously an incredible player. You know, we did not have the cap space. I think the coaching staff felt—coach and personnel, all of us felt collectively … we had an answer in [Desmond] Ridder, a younger player without that kind of contract that would’ve kept us from actually building the team we wanted to build.” That team the Falcons wanted to build finished 7-10 with a bottom-five offense, and led to Blank’s firing of head coach Arthur Smith. The Commanders, Raiders, and Panthers are all looking for new coaches, as well.
If the answer is “Desmond Ritter,” you’re asking the wrong question.
In related news, I wish I had a contrarian pick for you, but I’m betting 1)a parlay of the Ravens/49ers moneyline and 2)the Niners (-9.5) parlayed with the over.