Colts GM addresses pursuing Ravens QB Lamar Jackson

It sounds like Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard will at least kick the tires on acquiring Baltimore Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson.

"Anytime a special player is available, which he is, you’ve got to do the work," Ballard said of Jackson on Monday, as shared by ESPN's Stephen Holder and Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. "I’m not gonna get into deep discussions on where it’s at or what we’re doing or what we might do. But what I’ll tell you is he’s a really good player, really special player. But you never know how any of this will work out."

For a piece originally shared on March 20, Holder noted that the Colts "did not rule out having discussions with Jackson" as of that time. Unlike some other teams, the Colts have no proven QB1 on their depth chart heading into the upcoming NFL Draft who would be upset upon learning the club spoke with Jackson about a potential deal. 

According to Simmons, Colts head coach Shane Steichen recently said that free agency signing Gardner Minshew is "coming in to just compete and be the best he can be." 

In a mock draft updated last Tuesday, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. predicted that Indianapolis will trade up to select Kentucky Wildcats product Will Levis.

Jackson is currently eligible to speak with any team while on the non-exclusive franchise tag and revealed on Monday he requested a trade on March 2. 

It's since been reported Jackson's request was "more about money" than a sign he absolutely wants to move on from the Ravens.

"I think anytime at that position we have a chance to acquire a guy, you’ve got do your work on it to see if it’s doable," Ballard added on Monday. "Sometimes it is, sometimes it’s not."

It's been widely reported Jackson wants around $230M in fully guaranteed money via a contract similar to what Deshaun Watson received from the Cleveland Browns last March. 

Baltimore can match any offer Jackson agrees to with a different club or accept two first-round draft picks for his services, and Simmons wrote on Monday that "it’s likely the Ravens would match" any offer. 

New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas made it known he currently doesn't view Jackson as an option because he expects to get Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers. 

Assuming it's true that some other teams are scared off by Jackson's recent injury history, it's possible the Colts may be competing only with the Ravens for the one-time NFL Most Valuable Player if Ballard is serious about making a major splash this offseason.