NFL Analyst Hints at Vikings Long-term Interest in Lamar Jackson
Dustin Baker
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When the Minnesota Vikings 2022 season ended with a home playoff loss to the New York Giants, a popular kneejerk theory among the team’s fans was to “go get Lamar Jackson.”
Jackson’s contract expired in 2022, and the Ravens will either extend the former MVP, apply the franchise tag, or trade him.
NFL Analyst Hints at Vikings Long-term Interest in Lamar Jackson
Jackson was injured in Week 13 squeaker win over the Denver Broncos — and that was that for his 2022 campaign. Baltimore absolutely needed the mobile quarterback in the postseason but was bounced by the divisional rival Cincinnati Bengals in the Wildcard Round about three hours after the Vikings lost.
Well, in addition to the QB-carousel fates of Aaron Rodgers, Derek Carr, and Jimmy Garoppolo, Jackson’s situation will be intensely monitored by NFL general manager and fans, as the 26-year-old would transform any team he joined. And CBS Sports’ Zach Gelb seems to think the Vikings could be interested in Jackson — a year from now.
Gelb tweeted Friday, “NFC South will all go after Lamar Jackson if he’s traded this offseason. Vikings probably hoping he doesn’t get traded until a year from now (Kirk contract). With all that being said, if he does get dealt this offseason, the Lions and Commanders are two rosters that could use him.”
He clarified the theory about trade partners, “I’m also operating under the assumption that the Ravens would only trade him to the NFC.”
Current Vikings QB1 Kirk Cousins’ contract expires at the end of next season, hence Gelb’s mention of Minnesota’s alleged 2024 interest. In mere weeks, Minnesota’s general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah must decide to leave Cousins’ contract as-is or extend the passer by a year or two. The Vikings are tentatively expected to add at least one year onto the contract, although that is speculative as of February 16th.
There’s another hurdle, too, for Jackson to the Vikings — Baltimore. Unless Ravens head coach John Harbaugh blatantly lied a month ago, he expressed his firm desire to welcome Jackson back in 2023 and beyond. Reporters asked Harbaugh in January if Jackson would be the Ravens QB1 in September, and he replied, “200 percent. There is no question.”
“Lamar is our quarterback, and he’s been our quarterback. Everything we’ve done in terms of building our offense and building our team and how we think and how we put people around him is based on this incredible young man and his ability,” Harbaugh added.
So that Harbaugh nugget — more than anything else — makes a Jackson-Vikings relationship, this year or in 2024, rather unlikely. One would have to suppose Harbaugh talked too soon and that the Ravens ultimately couldn’t afford Jackson.
Dreaming of Jackson for the Vikings purposes indeed has a delightful upside, but even if the Ravens were lukewarm on the long-term commitment, getting Jackson to the Vikings would be tricky.
Foremost, he desires a Deshaun Watson-like contract, probably north of $250 million. The Vikings must pay Justin Jefferson this offseason, meaning the circumstance is a “who gets the bag?” scenario — Jackson or Jefferson. Somehow acquiring Jackson — for an unthinkable haul of draft capital — while keeping Jefferson glued to the Vikings depth chart for the next seven years would mandate a total skimp on the rest of the depth chart indefinitely.
But Gelb seems to believe there’s a path.
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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