The future of Lamar Jackson, the Baltimore Ravens’ explosive quarterback, and record-setter, continues to be up in the air. The Ravens and the QB haven’t been able to reach a mutually acceptable deal and Jackson remains bound under the non-exclusive franchise tag. With rumors swirling of a potential franchise tag and a potential trade, the question on every Ravens fan’s mind is: will Lamar stay or go?

The Baltimore Ravens have expressed interest in WR Odell Beckham Jr. who is also shopping for teams. According to reports, he has been in talks with the Jets and the Rams. However, the Ravens aren’t pursuing him to entice Lamar Jackson to return. Instead, they want to evolve their offense and improve their passing game. The Baltimore Ravens are looking for someone to step up on third down and improve productivity in their receiving corps. They’re not worried about losing Lamar Jackson and are considering other receivers in later rounds.

Will Lamar Jackson stay in Baltimore?

Ian Rapoport sure thinks so. The NFL insider says that Lamar might be asking for a trade, but his intention could be to get a better deal with the Ravens. He just wants to make sure the team pays him fairly for how good he is. It’s normal for players to talk with their teams about getting better contracts. It doesn’t always mean they want to leave their team.

“The relationship is really pretty good, his letters to his fans did not feel like that but I bet you a lot of Ravens fans are going to be happy to hear what you just said.” Pat McAfee retorted in response.

Lamar Jackson is a popular and important player on the Baltimore Ravens team. While other teams may be interested in him, it’s likely that he will stay with the Ravens because the team values him highly and he has a good relationship with his coaches and teammates.  Or at least that’s what Rapoport thinks. He further reiterated, “I know the Ravens still wanna get a deal done with Lamar Jackson and I think he still ends up back in Baltimore.”

Lamar in a pickle

Lamar Jackson is currently in a confusing situation regarding his contract. There are rumors that the Ravens may use the franchise tag on him, which would allow them to keep him for another year without signing a long-term deal and would get his rights. This would surely not be good for the talented QB in getting what he is worth.

READ MORE – “Lamar Is Completely Different”: Former Ravens Star Puts Lamar Jackson Ahead of Ray Lewis and Ed Reed as Contract Talks Continue to Go South

Lamar Jackson has been playing for the Baltimore Ravens since 2018. He also holds multiple records, including most consecutive games with at least one touchdown pass and at least 50 rushing yards by a quarterback. It’s unclear then why the contract is at such a standstill, especially when there are many teams in need of a franchise quarterback. Lamar’s skillset, including his speed, ability to make great throws, and make plays, make him an attractive option for any team. But no team seems to be willing to bring him on. What do you think of Rapoport’s opinions? Is Jackson going to stay in Blatimore or are their paths going to diverge? Let us know in the comments below.

WATCH THIS STORY – Richard Sherman criticizes Patrick Mahomes in the midst of Lamar Jackson’s contract issues.