NFL teams can officially designate their franchise or transition players starting today, and the name everyone has their eyes on is QB Lamar Jackson.
It has already been reported that the Ravens will give Jackson a tag, but whether it will be the exclusive or non-exclusive tag is unknown.
Baltimore has until March 7 to make its decision, but which is the better option?
The exclusive tag is projected to cost $45 million while the non-exclusive tag costs $32.4 million, per ESPN's Jamison Hensley. However, the difference between the two is the compensation the Ravens would likely receive if Jackson were to be traded.
Under the non-exclusive tag, teams could offer Jackson a contract and if Baltimore didn't want to match it, it would receive two first-round picks. But under the exclusive tag, the Ravens would have full control of Jackson, where he goes and what they would get in return.
"My sense is that it will be the exclusive," NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said on "The Pat McAfee Show." "It costs Baltimore more, however, if at some point they ever want to trade him, they set the bank. It would be more than two first-rounders."
"My sense is that Lamar Jackson will get the exclusive franchise tag from the Baltimore Ravens" ~ @RapSheet#PMSLive pic.twitter.com/Nyqw0Hjd2l
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 31, 2023
The exclusive tag seems to be the more popular choice and I couldn't agree more. Unless the Ravens are truthfully 100 percent confident that Jackson will still be with the team in 2023, giving him the more expensive tag is worth it in the case of a potential trade.
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