The Baltimore Ravens have seen a ton of rumors swirling around their star quarterback, Lamar Jackson, in the past week. It started with a report questioning Jackson’s off-the-field motivation and his relationship with Head Coach John Harbaugh. Trade ideas were also thrown out, which has vaulted a ton of questions regarding Jackson’s future in Baltimore.
Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley also added questions, after he helped keep the Ravens’ playoff hopes alive in a respectable showing against the Green Bay Packers in Week 17. While he was far from the driving factor in the win, as running back Derrick Henry dominated with 36 carries for 216 yards and four touchdowns, Huntley showed he can lead a strong offensive performance.
Jackson returned to practice on Wednesday, and on Thursday, he officially confirmed that he will start against the Pittsburgh Steelers in their Week 18 do-or-die showdown. Not only that, but the two-time MVP also shut down all the rumors going around.
Still, the trade rumors are fresh in everyone’s minds and are unlikely to die down until Jackson signs a new contract this offseason. The latest trade proposal from the NFL media will likely irritate many Ravens fans.
Latest Lamar Jackson trade proposal is sure to ignite backlash
Mike Sando of The Athletic released an article outlining the Ravens’ 2025 season and what the future of Lamar Jackson’s career could look like (subscription required). He spoke with an NFL agent who had a lot to say regarding Jackson’s situation, including a potential landing spot that no one has been discussing. Sando wrote:
“The agent loved Minnesota as an under-the-radar destination. The Vikings would send J.J. McCarthy to Baltimore as part of the deal, giving both QBs a fresh start.”
“The Ravens, long rooted in the draft, could put the extra picks to use wisely (they drafted Jackson at No. 32, after all.)”
The potential deal was likened to the Dallas Mavericks trade of Luka Doncic, which is widely regarded as possibly the worst trade in the history of sports. In this case, though, the Ravens would be getting a better haul.
Regardless of the haul, you do not trade your two-time MVP quarterback. You especially do not strike that deal if one of the highlights of your return is a young, unproven quarterback struggling to catch on to the pace of the NFL. Sure, it is only J.J. McCarthy’s first year as an NFL quarterback, as he missed his entire rookie season to a torn meniscus, but 2025 has shown very little promise. In nine games, the 22-year-old has completed just 57.3% of his passes for 1,450 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
Jackson has dealt with countless injuries this year, and he has been far from his MVP self, but he has shown glimpses of that top-five quarterback we all know. It is clear that with some better injury luck and an improved offensive line, he can get back to tearing apart opposing defenses.
DeCosta must make it a priority to get a new deal done with Jackson this offseason. Jackson’s cap hit skyrockets to $74.5 million in 2026, and the Ravens need to get the problem fixed before they begin addressing the rest of their roster needs.