Lamar Jackson Says “I’d Be Happy” If Ravens Sign Antonio Brown

Lamar Jackson said on Tuesday that he’d be happy if the Baltimore Ravens signed Antonio Brown, but acknowledged that the decision is up to the front office.

It’s been a busy day in Lamar Jackson news after the Baltimore Ravens quarterback did a Zoom call with members of the media today. In off-the-field news, Jackson confirmed that he will be the cover athlete on the next edition of Madden Football, and our Chris Schisler is here to tell you why you shouldn’t be concerned about a possible Madden curse. In on-the-field news, Jackson gave his take about the possibility of the Ravens signing Antonio Brown.

Jackson told reporters that “I’d be happy if they signed him,” but noted that “it’s not my decision”.  The question was spurred by a video that was shared by Marquise Brown (Antonio’s cousin) earlier this month, which showed Jackson, both Brown cousins, and draft prospect Jerry Jeudy doing a joint workout in Florida.

Lamar Jackson saying he’d like to throw to one of the better receivers in recent memory is hardly news, it’s perhaps slightly more newsworthy that he seems willing to (at least publicly) trust the front office and coaching staff with that decision. We still don’t know Hollywood’s exact thoughts about the matter (though he’d surely like to team up with his cousin), but one of the concerns for Ravens fans following the workout video was that a rift could generate between the front office and Jackson or Hollywood if the team refused to pursue the older Brown. So for that reason alone, it was encouraging to see Jackson saying the “right things” on Tuesday rather than pushing the envelope.

Eric DeCosta was asked about Antonio Brown earlier this month, and said he preferred to keep his thoughts on the matter “in-house.” Those comments alone don’t rule out the chances of Antonio Brown becoming a Raven, as DeCosta is known for being tight-lipped on just about all transactional matters. But it would be hard to imagine the team deciding the former Steelers receiver’s baggage is worth the risk, especially given the depth of quality receivers that are available in this year’s NFL Draft class.

Schisler gave his take earlier this month on why the Ravens might be the only good fit in the league for “A.B.” if he does ultimately get another shot in the league. Antonio Brown has hired an agent, but will still need to have his case reviewed by commissioner Roger Goodell, and would presumably have to face a suspension before seeing the field again. Even if for the uncertainty alone, it seems incredibly unlikely that Antonio Brown will ever suit up as a Raven, but we know that Lamar Jackson would be all for it.