Prime-Time First TD Bets — Monday Night Football, Week 16
Alex Christenson
There has been a lot of speculation surrounding Lamar Jackson’s future in Baltimore. And after it was announced that he requested a trade in early March, that speculation is only going to grow. When a player of Jackson’s caliber could potentially be on the move, it is always fun to imagine which teams could trade for the former MVP.
Let’s keep the speculation rolling with a look at some of the top potential Lamar Jackson landing spots.
Atlanta Falcons
There isn’t a doubt in my mind that the best and most exciting potential landing spot for Lamar Jackson is Atlanta. And yes, there was a report that the Falcons weren’t interested in trading for Jackson, but I believe that as much as I believe the Bills will ever win a Super Bowl.
Anyway, Jackson would be a perfect fit in this Falcons offense that has plenty of similarities to the Ravens. Atlanta is a run-centric offense that uses plenty of creativity, especially when it comes to using the quarterback position in the run game. This past season, Marcus Mariota was sixth among all signal-callers in designed runs with 58, averaging 4.5 per game. Arthur Smith’s running scheme was one of the best in all of football last season, as rookie Tyler Allgeier ranked ninth in the league in yards before contact per rush (2.9). Like the Ravens, the Falcons also use plenty of multi-back formations, which Jackson would be very comfortable operating from. Atlanta’s 230 offensive plays with two running backs on the field were the third-most in the league last season. The Falcons also operated out of the pistol formation at the highest rate last season, which is perfect for Jackson, as he is averaging just 88.6 pass attempts from under center over the last three seasons. He wouldn’t be throwing to Mark Andrews any longer, but Jackson would have a good time throwing to Drake London and Kyle Pitts, while the Falcons would easily become the favorites in the NFC South.
This isn’t just the best fit for Jackson. It’s the perfect fit, period.
New York Jets
Though it seems inevitable that Aaron Rodgers will be traded to the Jets, what if it doesn’t happen? What if Green Bay is asking for too much? What if Rodgers decides to retire? Regardless, the Jets should be more interested in trading for the 26-year-old Jackson, who would make the Jets legitimate AFC playoff contenders. He’d instantly become the franchise’s best quarterback in decades, and with that stellar defense on the other side of the ball, New York could make some serious noise.
Indianapolis Colts
Over the last few seasons, the Colts have been stuck on this carousel of veteran quarterbacks who have given this franchise zero ceiling. Now, Indianapolis is finally in position to potentially draft their next franchise quarterback. But they could also just trade for Jackson, pair him with Jonathan Taylor and Michael Pittman and get back to winning their division. Sure, they could just draft a QB at No. 4 overall and see how their young player develops – or they could just add a guaranteed star in the NFL that is still just 26 years old.
Washington Commanders
After Atlanta, this is probably my second-favorite landing spot for Jackson. Washington will likely give Sam Howell the opportunity to win the starting quarterback job, while Jacoby Brissett is a stellar backup. However, if you add Jackson to this offense alongside new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, things get very, very interesting in the NFC East. After having incredibly lackluster pass-catchers throughout his tenure in Baltimore, Jackson would be throwing passes to Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson and Curtis Samuel. That concept alone excites me, especially with a more creative play-caller in Bieniemy putting these players in positions to find success. Can you imagine how exciting the NFC East would be with Jackson, Jalen Hurts, Dak Prescott and Daniel Jones? I am absolutely here for it.
