Falcons owner compares Lamar Jackson, Deshaun Watson situations

Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank has compared his club's pursuit of Deshaun Watson last year to not making a move for Baltimore Ravens star Lamar Jackson this spring. 

"I think Lamar's situation, and I don't really want to spend a whole lot of time talking about players on other clubs, but Lamar's situation, I think, is very different," Blank told reporters on Tuesday, as shared by Jamison Hensley of ESPN. "A different player. Different time."

The Falcons and New Orleans Saints were believed to be the favorites to land Watson as of March 17, 2022, before he learned the Cleveland Browns were willing to give him a fully guaranteed five-year, $230M contract. That deal presumably complicated the Ravens' relationship with Jackson and may be scaring other teams off from reaching out to the 26-year-old while he's on the non-exclusive franchise tag. 

Blank also admitted to having worries over the fact that Jackson has missed 11 games, playoffs included, since Week 1 of the 2021 season due to injuries. ESPN NFL insider Chris Mortensen tweeted on Monday that at least one club wonders if Jackson's "sleep habits and nutrition" have contributed "to his absences" as a pro. 

"Looking at it objectively, there is some concern about whether or not he can play his style of game for ... how long can that last," Blank said of Jackson. "I'm not sure. He's only 26. Hopefully a long time for his benefit or anybody that he's signed with. But he's missed five to six games each of the last two years. This is not like baseball and basketball where you're playing 82 or 182 games, or whatever baseball is now."

Additionally, Blank suggested during an appearance on the "Dukes & Bell" program which airs on Atlanta sports radio station 92.9 FM The Game that he does not want to tie up roughly "25% of our cap" on one player, especially when the Falcons have 2022 third-round draft pick Desmond Ridder and former Washington Commanders quarterback Taylor Heinicke on the roster. 

Head coach Arthur Smith confirmed Tuesday that Ridder is currently his QB1. 

"Most importantly for us, we drafted this young man, Desmond Ridder, in the third round," Blank said. "And he’s continued to show us everything we need to and beyond that to the point where coach Smith, (general manager) Terry Fontenot and (Falcons CEO Rich McKay) all feel comfortable." 

Plenty could change regarding feelings about Jackson among other clubs before the summer, especially if it's thought the Ravens may not necessarily match an offer that equals or betters what Watson signed last offseason. For now, though, the Falcons are making it known they're passing on attempting to acquire the one-time NFL Most Valuable Player ahead of the upcoming draft.