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When the Minnesota Vikings’ 2022 season ended with a home playoff loss to the New York Giants, a popular theory among fans of the team was to “go find Lamar Jackson.”
Jackson’s contract expired in 2022, and the Ravens will 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 the grating Week 13 win over the Denver Broncos, and that was that for their 2022 campaign. Baltimore absolutely needed the mobile quarterback in the postseason, but he was snubbed by divisional rival Cincinnati Bengals in the wild-card round about three hours after the Vikings lost.
Well, in addition to the QB-carousel destinations of Aaron Rodgers, Derek Carr and Jimmy Garoppolo, Jackson’s situation will be closely monitored by the NFL’s general manager and fans, as the 26-year-old would transform any team at once. to join AND CBS Sports Zach Gelb seems to think the Vikings might be interested in Jackson, a year from now.
Lamar Jackson celebrates at midfield as his jersey number was officially retired Saturday afternoon at halftime of the game between the U of L and Syracuse. November 13, 2021. © Alton Strupp/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK.Gelb he tweeted on friday, “NFC South will go after Lamar Jackson if he is traded this offseason. The Vikings probably hope they don’t trade him for another year (Kirk’s contract). With all of that being said, if they trade him this offseason, the Lions and Commanders are two rosters that could use him.”
He clarified the theory about trade partners: “I’m also operating on the assumption that the Ravens would just trade him to the NFC.”
 warms up before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports.</p>
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November 7, 2021; Baltimore, Maryland, United States; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) warms up before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports.Vikings QB1 Kirk Cousins’ current contract expires at the end of next season, hence Gelb’s mention of alleged Minnesota interest in 2024. In just a few weeks, Minnesota GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah must decide to either leave Cousins’ contract as is or extend the quarterback’s contract for one or two years. The Vikings are tentatively expected to add at least a year to the contract, though that’s speculative as of February 16.
There is also another hurdle for Jackson for the Vikings: baltimore. Unless Ravens head coach John Harbaugh was outright lying a month ago, he expressed his strong desire to welcome Jackson back in 2023 and beyond. Harbaugh was asked by reporters 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 has been our quarterback. Everything that 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.
 throws a pass during the first quarter against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports</p>
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October 16, 2022; East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) throws a pass during the first quarter against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY SportsSo that Harbaugh nugget, more than anything else, makes a Jackson-Vikings relationship, this year or in 2024, pretty unlikely. One would have to assume that Harbaugh spoke too soon and that the Ravens ultimately couldn’t pay Jackson.
Dreaming of Jackson for Vikings purposes certainly has a lovely upside, but even if the Ravens were lukewarm on a long-term commitment, bringing Jackson to the Vikings would be tricky.
Above all, he wants a contract similar to Deshaun Watson’s, probably in excess of $250 million. The Vikings have to pay Justin Jefferson this offseason, which means the circumstance is “who gets the bag?” setting: Jackson or Jefferson. Somehow, acquiring Jackson, for an unthinkable amount of draft capital, while keeping Jefferson glued to the Vikings’ depth chart for the next seven years, would force them to skimp on the rest of the depth chart indefinitely. .
But Gelb seems to believe that there is a way.
dustin baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube channel, vikesnow. He host a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with raun sawh and spice salt. His obsession with Vikings dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos’ and The Doors.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.