Vikings Fans’ Verdict on Lamar Jackson

Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback and 2019 league MVP Lamar Jackson is firmly on the trade block, and 31 teams can somewhat easily explore a trade for his services.

Jackson requested a trade out of Baltimore, the team that drafted him in 2018, on March 2nd. The man explained the situation on Twitter this week, “As of March 2nd I requested a trade from the Ravens organization for which the Ravens has not been interested in meeting my value, any and everyone that’s has met me or been around me know I love the game of football and my dream is to help a team win the Super Bowl.”

Vikings Fans’ Verdict on Lamar Jackson

Baltimore placed a non-exclusive franchise tag on Jackson, meaning any team can offer him a juicy contract and would have to donate two 1st-Rounders to the Ravens for his services — while the Ravens front office can match any offer. Teams have shied away from a Jackson contract because it would allegedly “do the Ravens bidding.” And in the end, most folks believed Jackson would return to Baltimore. That hypothesis, though, now seems incorrect.

Verdict on Lamar
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And because a Jackson trade is all the rage and the Minnesota Vikings are on the Vegas shortlist to acquire his services, we polled Vikings fans about their appetite for a trade. Surprisingly, the answer is mostly a nope. 62.5% of folks polled said no thanks to Jackson on the other purple team.

The poll was unscientific, and 4,609 people responded.

After Jackson’s trade clarification, sportsbooks produced odds accordingly for his next NFL home. Wouldn’t you know it? The Vikings were fourth on the list.

  • Baltimore Ravens: +225
  • Tennessee Titans: +400
  • New England Patriots: +500
  • Minnesota Vikings: +550
  • Indianapolis Colts: +1000
  • New York Jets: +1400
  • Atlanta Falcons: +1500
  • The Field: +575

Jackson-to-Vikings isn’t a totally far-fetched idea, but Vikings fans evidently don’t enjoy his annual pricetag, injury history, or simply don’t want to barter with two 1st-Round picks.

Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports.

Brinks Marion explained his vote on Twitter, “Would I want Lamar? Sure, whatever, it’d be fun we’d win some games. Do I want to pay him more than the guy we have? Hell no.”

Twitter user @LuvDeHustle replied, “Don’t really want the team to do that, but I’ll support anybody that suits up in Vikings gear.”

@lohr_jeremy commented, “Vikings are ready to start over with a cheap rookie. If not that they could keep the picks and extend Kirk for a lot less. I don’t think LJ has more games left than Kirk.”

Surprise Suitors
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports.

Adam Feist detailed his yes vote, “I voted yes, but with reservation. The injury history is concerning. If you could look into a crystal ball and tell me that the Vikings would get Lamar Jackson level of play with Kirk Cousins’ level of durability, then there would be no hesitation.”

If the Vikings are even semi-interested in acquiring Jackson, they must answer these questions:

  1. Jackson’s last two seasons have been sullied by season-changing and season-defining injuries. Does the general manager who preaches ‘value’ really want an oft-injured quarterback on his team at the Deshaun Watson price?
  2. The Vikings would swallow oodles in dead cap funds trading Cousins now. Cousins also has a no-trade clause, and both Jackson and Cousins cannot play for the 2023 Vikings.
  3. About 60% of the Vikings salary cap would go toward five players before you know it — Lamar Jackson, Justin Jefferson, Christian Darrisaw, Brian O’Neill, and T.J. Hockenson. Would defense matter?

Ultimately, Vikings fans would instantly warm up to Jackson in Minnesota, but there would evidently be paranoia about the outcome.


Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.

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