Following the massive information from Friday wherein the Carolina Panthers traded as much as the No. 1 total decide, the Indianapolis Colts now must weigh all of their choices within the 2023 NFL draft.
One of many extra thrilling, but principally unrealistic choices is buying and selling for Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who acquired the non-exclusive franchise tag earlier this week.
On this state of affairs, the Colts would commerce the No. 4 total decide and a 2024 first-round decide to the Ravens for Jackson. The Colts then would want to signal Jackson to a long-term deal, most of which might probably be assured.
Within the newest mock draft from The Athletic, Dane Brugler had the Colts making that commerce after which had the Ravens taking Anthony Richardson with that decide.
Let’s have some enjoyable. The Colts are within the unenviable place of getting everybody know they should take a mighty swing at quarterback. And ready to see which quarterback falls to them at No. 4 appears like the kind of conservative transfer that may value GM Chris Ballard his job.
“Buying and selling” for Lamar Jackson by signing him to a suggestion sheet that the Ravens don’t match can be an costly proposition, clearly, however Jackson is a confirmed commodity who can be a ton of enjoyable in Shane Steichen’s offense. He’d make the Colts quick contenders for a deep playoff run.
Jackson’s match inside Steichen’s offense can be extremely enjoyable, however that is more than likely a pipe-dream state of affairs. An argument might be made that the Colts would like to sit down at No. 4 total and take Richardson anyway.
Buying and selling for Jackson is a sophisticated state of affairs. The truth that he needs a totally assured contract in the identical mild as Deshaun Watson is holding groups from throwing clean checks at him.
That isn’t to say Jackson isn’t value it. He’s a former unanimous MVP and is a game-breaking expertise that might assist the Colts compete in a particularly deep convention.
However few groups have the power to place $200 million into an escrow account straight away. It’s unknown if Jim Irsay is liquid sufficient to make that form of transfer and whether or not he’d need to do this anyway contemplating Jackson’s latest accidents.
Buying and selling for Jackson can be a enjoyable thought, but it surely’s more than likely an unrealistic state of affairs, particularly when the crew could desire to strive for the upside of Richardson with Steichen on the helm.
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