NFL Insider Floated Lamar Jackson as a Vikings Possibility
No quarterback in NFL history has been as dynamic an athlete as Lamar Jackson, and the two-time MVP remains one of the league’s elite QBs. His future with the Ravens has recently been questioned and the Vikings have been part of the speculation.
It all started with The Athletic‘s Mike Sando, who published an article about the Ravens.
He wrote, “As for Jackson? He’s under contract through 2027, but a prominent NFL agent said Sunday what more people are thinking: ‘The biggest story of the offseason is going to be Lamar. That is going to be crazy.'”
Jackson isn’t new to Vikings rumors. When he was franchise-tagged by the Ravens a couple of years ago, the Vikings were viewed as a possible new employer. Ultimately, he stayed with the Ravens. Signed through 2027, Jackson likely wants to lock-in more long-term security in the upcoming offseason. If the Ravens aren’t willing to provide that, a divorce could be an option.
That same anonymous agent suggested the Vikings would make sense as a suitor for the 2018 draftee: “The Baltimore Sun suggested Jackson would like to play for the Dolphins, whose stadium is 47 miles south of where Jackson graduated high school. 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.”
McCarthy’s first two seasons in the NFL have been rocky, to say the least. Injuries are piling up, and his on-field play has been concerning. Jackson would instantly transform the Vikings into a legit contender. Even teams with young QBs explore elite contingencies.
Sando commented about the trade idea, “Jackson on artificial turf, in a dome? Look out. McCarthy with a Harbaugh? Worked well at Michigan, where his coach was Jim, not John.”
Jackson is a genuine dual threat. Quarterbacks as fast as Jackson usually don’t last long in the NFL because the passing game continues to be the dominant element of NFL offenses. Over the years, however, Jackson has developed into a very good passer of the football. That ability is enhanced by defenses having to focus on containing him in the pocket.
Still, Sando has raised questions about Jackson’s level of play: “Jackson’s 2019 and 2024 seasons rank first and second, respectively, in EPA per play (counting rushes) among 231 qualifying QB seasons since 2019. That’s great, but his other seasons rank 58th (2020), 88th (2023), 104th (2022), 117th (2021) and 133rd (2025). Put another way, Jackson ranks 17th in EPA per play among 41 quarterbacks with at least 25 starts across 2020-23 and 2025. That’s right behind Jared Goff and Joe Burrow, which sounds good, but it’s also just ahead of Teddy Bridgewater, Tua Tagovailoa, Derek Carr, Watson, Kyler Murray and Jacoby Brissett, which sounds less good.”
That athleticism will eventually vanish as Father Time is still undefeated. Jackson will turn 29 next week. A hamstring injury derailed his 2025 campaign, and he was hurt in both 2021 and 2022. One might wonder if he’ll age as gracefully as true pocket passers.
Sando wrote, “Point being, Jackson has been spectacular at his best, but he has not been consistently excellent. With a hamstring injury (and various other injuries) curbing his running this season, the Ravens might have gotten a preview of what Jackson, who turns 29 next week, will look like as he ages.”
Either way, Jackson has scored 20 touchdowns (18 passing and two rushing) and only thrown six interceptions this season. Minnesota’s QBs this season have registered 21 touchdowns and 21 interceptions, and there’s no doubt about it, with Jackson, the Vikings would still have meaningful football ahead of them.
Sando noted, “The Ravens, long rooted in the draft, could put the extra draft picks to use wisely (they drafted Jackson at No. 32, after all). Minnesota, stung by the success Vikings alums Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones enjoyed this season while McCarthy faltered, would recover in spectacular fashion, changing the dynamics of the NFC North.”
A Jackson trade would likely cost two or three first-round picks in addition to McCarthy. The agent compared the trade to the NBA deal of Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.
“Lamar being traded could be similar to the (Dallas) Mavericks trading Luka Dončić. The Mavericks were complaining about Luka’s toughness, taking care of his body, work ethic. Luka gets moved, he loses all that weight, he gets in great shape and he’s got a new lease on life. Lamar might be the same.”
Sando clarified that the Ravens would get “strong value” in return, unlike the Mavericks.
The agent declared, “If Lamar were to be put on the block even quietly, and you are a team that is not established at quarterback, do whatever it takes.”
The Vikings certainly fall into that category. McCarthy has shown some growth over the last month, but he’s still a question mark going forward and the Vikings are widely expected to add competition or at least a strong veteran backup as insurance.
Jackson is a two-time MVP and four-time Pro Bowler. He has a ridiculous 76-30 record as a starter with over 22,000 passing yards, 184 touchdowns and 55 interceptions. On the ground, Jackson has tallied another 6,513 yards and 35 touchdowns.
In the near future, various quarterbacks will be linked to the Vikings. The most exciting names are certainly AFC North QBs Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow. Kyler Murray, Malik Willis, or Joe Flacco could also enter the mix.
At the end of the day, the likelihood of the Jackson-Vikings sweepstakes is still very low. The Ravens will, at some point, conclude that trading away future Hall of Famers isn’t the way to go.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.