Lamar Jackson to Patriots? Former NE star claims Ravens QB could bring back Tom Brady glory years

Lamar Jackson remains one of the biggest focuses of the entire 2023 NFL offseason after failing to reach an agreement with the Baltimore Ravens on a long-term contract extension.

This resulted in the Ravens placing a non-exclusive franchise tag on Jackson.

He currently has the ability to negotiate a contract with other NFL teams during the free-agency period, but the Ravens have the right to match any offer he receives.

This complicated situation puts Jackson's future in limbo. It's unclear at this point if he will remain in Baltimore or play for a new team during the 2023 NFL season. If he does switch teams, he's likely to have a solid market of potential destinations.

NFL analyst Rob Ninkovich recently appeared on an episode of "Get Up" to share his thoughts about the idea of Lamar Jackson joining the New England Patriots, his former team.

"A need is necessary for life. A want, it helps, it helps your quality of life. I don't need Lamar here, but I sure as heck want to see Lamar running around with a New England Patriot on his helmet. Because if I ... if you ... see it out there, the Patriots instantly, instantly become division favorites, and, to me, get right back into that Súper Bowl hunt."

The Patriots could potentially be in the market to upgrade their quarterback position. Mac Jones showed alarming signs of regression during his 2022 NFL season, leading to the Patriots missing out on the NFL Playoffs. Ninkovich believes that adding Lamar Jackson will instantly return them to being Super Bowl contenders, as they were just about every year with Tom Brady.

Lamar Jackson can be a monumental upgrade from Mac Jones for Patriots

New England Patriots QB Mac Jones

Mac Jones took a step back during the 2022 NFL season after his promising rookie campaign. He regressed in just about every statistical category, including yards, touchdowns, interceptions, completion percentage, and passer rating. While it's common for young quarterbacks to go through their fair share of struggles, it's not clear how sold the Patriots are Jones becoming their future franchise quarterback.

If the Patriots want to significantly improve their chances of becoming Super Bowl contenders, especially in the short-term, they should seriously consider pursuing Lamar Jackson. In just five years in the league, he has already won an NFL MVP award, while helping the Ravens reach the NFL Playoffs three times. He's also one of the best rushing quarterbacks of all time, including owning a single-season NFL record.

While Mac Jones may one day develop into a superstar quarterback, Lamar Jackson is one already. It's possible the Patriots elect to go with more of a sure thing right now with Lamar Jackson, then wait to see if the future will play out favorably with Mac Jones.