Can Richardson solve the Ravens' Lamar problem?

Fans can even use a betting offer to judge themselves which quarterback will be the first off the board. According to oddschecker, quarterback CJ Stroud is one of the favorites, and Will Levis or Anthony Richardson also have potential to be selected first.

Richardson brings an intriguing dynamic, not just for the Ravens, but for all interested parties. His measurables are off the charts and, in terms of potential, he could be the most talented player in the 2023 Draft. Sitting at the 22nd overall pick, Baltimore might have a shot at acquiring the quarterback. It would take a calculated gamble to move up a few slots in the process, but it might be worth it overall, even with the prospect of trading Jackson.

Moving On From Lamar?

Trading their star quarterback would have been unthinkable after the 2019 season when Lamar was named MVP for his outstanding campaign after leading Baltimore to the AFC North crown with a 14-2 record. However, the Ravens were defeated in the Divisional Round by the Tennessee Titans and have failed to reach the AFC Championship Game since their last Super Bowl victory in 2012. Jackson’s playoff performances have not been outstanding, but his play on the field certainly merited a lengthy extension.

During negotiations last year, Jackson was reportedly looking for a fully-guaranteed contract in the region of $240 million to match the deal received by Deshaun Watson at the Cleveland Browns. Baltimore were hesitant to offer a fully-guaranteed contract due to injury concerns, which once again reared up in the 2022 season when Jackson missed five games for the second term in a row. The 26-year-old has undoubted talent when he’s on the field, but the Ravens will have natural concerns about his durability, especially considering the amount of money at stake for the franchise to invest in the future.

Richardson would offer a natural reset at the quarterback position. He fits the same style of offense as Lamar as a run-first quarterback rather than an outright passer. Richardson threw for 17 touchdowns to nine interceptions in his only season as a starter at Florida, although he displayed his ability on the ground with his speed, accumulating 654 yards and nine scores.

The 21-year-old still has a long way to go before he becomes an NFL starter, but there are parallels to be drawn with Lamar when he emerged out of the college ranks in 2018.

Taking The Gamble

Lamar emerged out of Louisville and was selected by Baltimore with the 32nd overall pick in the 2018 Draft. He played behind Joe Flacco in the 2018 campaign and was used sparingly in the early stages of the season before he replaced the veteran down the stretch. Lamar barely threw the ball in the 2018 season, and the predictability of the Ravens’ offense resulted in a defeat in the Wildcard Round to the Los Angeles Chargers.

Jackson exploded into life in 2019 and was sensational throughout the term, breaking NFL quarterback rushing records on his way to the MVP award. However, the end result in the playoffs was the same; a defeat in the Divisional Round to the Titans.

Given that Baltimore are no further along in their bid to return to the Super Bowl, it might be prudent to cash in on draft picks on Jackson, as the mood between both franchise and quarterback has soured. Whoever selects Richardson in the 2023 NFL Draft would be taking a huge risk, but the Ravens are no stranger to adapting to the skills of a running quarterback.

Richardson has huge potential and is arguably the best quarterback available in the draft, albeit not the most polished compared to Bryce Young, CJ Stroud, and Will Levis. It would be an incredibly bold decision to allow Lamar to leave the franchise and move forward with a young quarterback.

With a new offensive coordinator in place and the potential to surround Richardson with talent without compromising future draft picks, it could be the perfect solution to the Lamar Jackson conundrum.