Both the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens have questions on the quarterback position heading into the 2022-2023 season.
The Ravens placed a non-exclusive franchise tag on Lamar Jackson and hope to get a long-term deal reached. The 49ers have two quarterbacks (Trey Lance and Brock Purdy) who may not be healthy enough to play in Week 1.
The 49ers and Ravens could trade Lamar Jackson for Trey Lance, according to Athletics insider Ted Nyguyen. He believes the 49ers would improve with Jackson on the team and that the Ravens should trade for Lance and some picks in order to replace Jackson.
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"This match is highly unlikely but potentially league-changing. The 49ers don’t have a first-round pick in 2023, so they would have to execute a sign-and-trade for Jackson’s rights rather than sign him to an offer sheet and send Baltimore first-round picks in the next two drafts. Maybe that sign-and-trade package could include Trey Lance, who still has a lot of potential but needs more time to develop."
Nguyen added that the 49ers are in win-now mode and Jackson would be a better option at quarterback than Brock Purdy.
He added:
"The 49ers are in win-now mode, and though Brock Purdy did some nice things and got the 49ers to the NFC Championship game, Jackson is a different beast. He’s also a better fit in coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense than people might think."
Both the 49ers and Ravens would benefit from a Lamar Jackson-Trey Lance trade
Both parties would benefit from this trade. The Ravens will be given a young quarterback heading into his third season at a cheap price with a lot of upside.
The team will also move on from Jackson while getting compensation in return and his potential long-term replacement.
The 49ers would get a healthier option at quarterback in Jackson, who also has more experience than Purdy, with a few playoff wins in four different years.
Jackson would be an absolute force in a Kyle-Shanahan heavy offensive-minded team and could win another MVP.
Even though Nguyen acknowledged the impossibility of the trade, it would shake up the league and be a fascinating exchange for both parties.
On Wednesday, Jackson can start talking to teams. If a team offers him a contract, the Ravens have five days to match it.
If you use any of the above quotes, please credit Ted Nguyen, The Athletic, and H/T Sportskeeda
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