Why the Ravens Should Move On From Lamar Jackson Now

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From Outspoken With Dan Sileo

Baltimore Faces a Major Decision on Lamar Jackson’s Future

The Baltimore Ravens will soon have a major decision to make at quarterback. With uncertainty surrounding who will start against the Jaguars on Thursday, the larger question is what Baltimore should do with Lamar Jackson moving forward.

In games Jackson has started over the past two years, the Ravens are 9-9. He has dealt with injuries, missed games and become less consistent. He is also running less, taking away one of the tools that made him one of the greatest athletes to play the quarterback position.

That creates a difficult contract decision for the front office, Eric DeCosta and the team’s ownership. Baltimore cannot build its organization and game plan around a quarterback who is frequently injured and no longer runs as much as he once did. Committing $65 million to an extension does not make sense under those circumstances.

Josh Allen plays a similar style but does not miss games. He also does not have a receiver like Zay Flowers, one of the NFL’s top receivers. Despite limited receiving options beyond Dalton at tight end, Allen remains available.

Baltimore has gone through the same exercise with Jackson repeatedly. His injuries are becoming more frequent, raising the possibility of trading him and starting over at quarterback with a new head coach. The Ravens must ask whether they truly believe they can win a Super Bowl with Jackson before making him the highest-paid player in the game.

Jackson is from South Florida, and a possible move to Miami was discussed a couple of years ago. Sending him home through a trade could be an option. What Baltimore should not do is give an aging, frequently injured quarterback who is running less a new three- or four-year contract.

John Harbaugh’s success in New York also factors into the conversation. After being criticized for his handling of Jackson in Baltimore, Harbaugh has the Giants in first place in the NFC East while working with his third quarterback and revamping the team.

Harbaugh is also holding players accountable. After Cam Skattebo put the ball on the ground, he did not receive a snap the following week. He then returned and rushed for more than 120 yards as the Giants earned a victory. That accountability may have been missing in Baltimore, where Jackson was coddled too much.

The Ravens cannot justify paying Jackson more than Patrick Mahomes when he has repeatedly been in and out of the lineup. As things stand, Harbaugh is winning the argument following the split. New York is in first place and could win the NFC East, while Jackson could spend the rest of the year on injured reserve and Baltimore is going nowhere.