Former NFL executive: Ravens should prepare for life without Lamar Jackson

Former NFL executive and current ESPN analyst Mike Tannenbaum has suggested the Baltimore Ravens should prepare to not have Lamar Jackson as their starting quarterback. 

"You’re on two-plus years, for whatever reason, fair or unfair, whatever it may be, of not getting a deal," Tannenbaum told Jonas Shaffer of The Baltimore Banner about talks between the Ravens and Jackson. "So at some point, you have to make the albeit-reluctant observation or thought that, 'Hey, it may just not work here. And what does plan B really look like? And we have to now be prepared for that.'"

Jackson has been negotiating without a representative certified by the NFL Players Association and had his rights for 2023 retained via the non-exclusive franchise tag on March 7. He is eligible to speak with other clubs about deals while on the tag, but the Ravens could then either match an offer he accepts or receive two first-round draft picks in return for his services. 

It's been said since last year that Jackson wants to top the fully guaranteed five-year, $230M contract the Cleveland Browns gave Deshaun Watson in March 2022. Thus far, there's no indication the Ravens or any other team is willing to meet that asking price. 

Jackson and the Ravens have until the July 17 deadline for teams to sign tagged players to agree to a multi-year deal. Otherwise, he will have to either play on the $32.416M franchise tender for 2023 or forfeit money by sitting games out. 

The Ravens don't necessarily need to find a potential replacement for Jackson in the 2023 NFL Draft that gets underway Thursday night. Well-respected sports talk host Dan Patrick said this week that he was told the San Francisco 49ers have "kicked the tires on" acquiring Jackson as 2022 rookie sensation Brock Purdy recovers from surgery he had on March 10 to repair the torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. The 49ers presumably would send 2021 first-round draft pick Trey Lance to Baltimore in such a trade. 

49ers general manager John Lynch indicated this week that he's "limited" regarding a massive and expensive move due to salary-cap issues. However, the recent contract restructure completed by the New York Jets and quarterback Aaron Rodgers offered the latest reminder that the NFL salary cap is essentially "fairy dust."