The plot thickens in the Lamar Jackson standoff with the Baltimore Ravens, as it may be starting to become clear what demands the superstar quarterback has made to the team in order to sign a new deal with the franchise.
The Ravens recently surprised many people by signing superstar wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to a one-year deal worth $15 million guaranteed.
Baltimore signing Beckham may have been a request by Jackson to give him a solid target downfield, but it may not stop there as he may have asked for another star widely to be in a Ravens uniform next season.
According to former NFL executive Michael Lombardi via Sarah Ellison, Jackson had asked the team to sign Beckham and trade for DeAndre Hopkins of the Arizona Cardinals.
Former NFL executive Michael Lombardi: “I was told reliably by somebody who is involved that Lamar [Jackson] told [the Ravens] in a conversation, ‘Get Hopkins and get Beckham, and then we can talk.’ And the club went back to him and said, ‘Look, we can’t get Hopkins and Beckham.… pic.twitter.com/B9IXmNAM9P
—Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) April 14, 2023
There’s no question that the Ravens have needed a serious upgrade in talent at the wide receiver position ever since they drafted Jackson in 2018.
Jackson is basically a one-man show on offense, which is why he’s become such a threat running the football because, more often than not, that’s the only option for him to move the chains for Baltimore.
However, asking the team to bring in two former All-Pro wide receivers is a bold request, and even though the team was able to land Beckham, the team trading for Hopkins may be a tricky proposition, especially now that the Cardinals know they have leverage in trade talks.
It’ll be interesting to see if the Ravens can make it happen, as it would appease Jackson and potentially create a high-powered offense in Baltimore.
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Ravens GM Comments On His Faith In Odell Beckham Jr.
