The NFL offseason is always an exciting time for football fans, and this year is no different as teams are exploring ways to improve their rosters. The San Francisco 49ers are no exception, as they are searching for ways to upgrade their quarterback position. The latest speculation is that the team could explore a trade for Baltimore Ravens dual-threat quarterback Lamar Jackson.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell recently ranked the teams that he believes are the best fit for Jackson, with the 49ers at No. 15 on the list. Jackson certainly would provide the 49ers with an upgrade at the position and San Francisco’s plethora of offensive weapons would give the former league MVP an elite arsenal.
However, Jackson officially was given the non-exclusive franchise tag by the Ravens on Monday. That means any team can sign Jackson to an offer sheet, which then gives Baltimore five days to match the offer. If the Ravens were to decline, the team that signs Jackson then would have to surrender both 2023 and 2024 first-round picks to Baltimore. That’s where it gets tricky for the 49ers, who are without a first-round pick in 2023 after trading up to select Trey Lance with the No. 3 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
The scenario is fun to think about, but how realistic is it? Barnwell broke down what a potential package might look like.
“Lance would have to head back to the Ravens, but would Baltimore feel the same way about him as Shanahan & Co. did two years ago? These two teams would have to get creative,” Barnwell explains. “What about Lance, Aiyuk and a 2024 first-round pick to the Ravens for Jackson and a 2024 fourth-round selection? I believe the 49ers are more likely to stay put at quarterback outside of adding a veteran backup such as Matt Ryan.”
If the 49ers are serious about acquiring Jackson, they would have to be willing to part with some of their valuable assets. It’s unclear if the team is willing to make such a move and whether the Ravens would be interested in such a package.
The 49ers appear to be preparing for a quarterback battle between Lance and Brock Purdy and likely will decide between the two once both are healthy and ready for the start of the 2023 season. Until then, the speculation about a potential trade for Jackson will continue. It’s unlikely that the 49ers will make a move for a superstar quarterback this offseason, but certainly not impossible.
