Colts ranked as one of the top destinations for Lamar Jackson
With Lamar Jackson possibly leaving the Baltimore Ravens, the Indianapolis Colts were named as one of the best destinations for the elite quarterback.
The NFL world saw a shocking development on Tuesday when the Baltimore Ravens used the non-exclusive franchise tag on Lamar Jackson. Jackson, one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, is now free to negotiate with other teams throughout the league. If he receives an offer from another franchise, the Ravens can either match the offer or allow Jackson to leave in exchange for two first-round picks.
Considering that Jackson is an elite quarterback, the expectation was that several teams would be willing to trade the picks and offer him a massive contract. However, there are some initial reports that Jackson’s market may not be as fruitful as it should be. Everyone’s trying to figure out why, because over half the league can drastically benefit from adding Lamar Jackson.
While everyone waits to see who Jackson’s actual suitors will be, experts have already started listing the teams that make the most sense for Jackson. Bill Barnwell, a staff writer for ESPN, recently ranked the 16 best team fits for Lamar Jackson. The Indianapolis Colts were ranked as the fourth-best team for Lamar, as Barnwell argued that Indy should be in the race.
ESPN ranks Colts as fourth-best team for Lamar Jackson
Barnwell lays out the obvious case: Indianapolis is desperate for a consistent quarterback. That's been the case for the Colts since Andrew Luck retired. Barnwell does explain that Indy could be satisfied with selecting a rookie at the top of the draft, and the franchise would benefit from a rookie quarterback contract, but Barnwell also points out that pairing Lamar Jackson with Shane Steichen could help the Colts see the kind of success that the Philadelphia Eagles had last season.
Ultimately, it’s going to come down to what Indianapolis is willing to sacrifice. Is Indy comfortable with gambling in the draft and banking on a rookie because that’s the cheaper option, or will the Colts go after Lamar Jackson and pay for a sure thing? That’s the decision that Chris Ballard and Jim Irsay have to make, but it’s clear that Indy is a great fit for Lamar Jackson.