This Potential Colts-Ravens Trade Could Land Lamar Jackson in Indianapolis

The Indianapolis Colts are in need of a new starting quarterback this offseason, and they’ve already signed Gardner Minshew in free agency. However, it’s unlikely that Minshew will be the only addition the Colts make at the quarterback position this offseason. Despite having the No. 4 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Colts may face challenges in landing a top quarterback due to other teams’ needs and draft projections.

The Arizona Cardinals, who hold the No. 3 pick in the draft, could determine the Colts’ fate. If the Cardinals keep their pick, the Colts will have the third choice of quarterbacks in the draft. However, if the Cardinals trade their pick to another quarterback-needy team, the Colts may be left with whoever is remaining from the top quarterbacks in this year’s class. To have more control over the outcome, the Colts could consider making a trade with the Cardinals to move up one spot. Alternatively, they could explore a trade for Lamar Jackson from the Baltimore Ravens.

Jackson has been tagged by Raven

Jackson was tagged with the non-exclusive franchise tag by the Ravens this offseason, and his market has been slow. The Colts have been suggested as a potential suitor for Jackson, and it could be a good fit. Jackson would provide much-needed stability to the quarterback position in Indianapolis, which has struggled since Andrew Luck’s departure. The Colts have relied on short-term fixes and stopgaps, which haven’t yielded the best results.

Acquiring Jackson and inserting him into their lineup would be a significant upgrade for the Colts. A potential trade between the Colts and Ravens could involve the Colts sending their No. 4 and No. 35 picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, as well as their first and second-round picks in the 2024 NFL Draft to the Ravens.

You may wonder why the Colts would include two second-round picks when the non-exclusive franchise tag only requires two first-round picks for a trade. The reason is that the Ravens have the right to match any offer sheet that Jackson signs. To ensure that a deal gets done, the Colts could offer the additional second-round picks as compensation, which would likely persuade the Ravens not to match the offer sheet.

Baltimore would certainly be tempted by the prospect of receiving such valuable draft capital in return for Jackson, even though they are keen on retaining him. With the extra picks, the Ravens could potentially make a move up in the 2024 NFL Draft to find a long-term replacement for Jackson if needed.