Lamar Jackson Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Lamar Jackson can make history under non-exclusive tag

By Aaron Becker | Last updated 3/9/23

The Ravens placed the $32.41 million non-exclusive franchise tag on QB Lamar Jackson Tuesday. He can negotiate with other teams starting next Wednesday, and he may just make some history.

In the 30 years of NFL free agency, a quarterback has never signed an offer sheet with another team after getting the non-exclusive tag and wound up on that team. Only one player (DT Sean Gilbert) has received the non-exclusive tag, signed an offer sheet with another team and ended up with that new team.

Lamar Jackson could make history: there never has been a QB to sign an offer sheet with another team after getting the non-exclusive tag, then wind up with that new team. In 2009, the Patriots placed the non-exclusive tag on Matt Cassel, but he then was traded to the Chiefs,… https://t.co/GisH9HAlv7
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2023

It has never happened for a reason. The team that places the non-exclusive tag on its player can match the offer or receive two first-round picks. Unless the offer is a massive contract that the Ravens don't want to match, they'll likely keep Jackson over two first-rounders.

There is another complicating factor as well. If a team signs Jackson to an offer sheet, Baltimore has five days to match it. That time span would essentially knock that team out of free agency and lose other available quarterback options because of Jackson's contract demands.

Complicating factor: If a team signs Lamar Jackson to an offer sheet, Baltimore has five days to match. That knocks that team essentially out of free agency and loses them the other available QBs -- because they are paralyzed in cap space just waiting. Not impossible. But hard. https://t.co/t6NNufNqey
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 9, 2023

It is not an impossible scenario for those willing to take the risk of obtaining Jackson. However, it will be a difficult one in order to make history this offseason.

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