Where will Lamar Jackson play in 2023? Exploring where the former MVP could play next season

Even though the Baltimore Ravens used the franchise tag on Lamar Jackson on Tuesday, there is a lot of conjecture about where the quarterback could end up in 2023.

Baltimore used a non-exclusive tag instead on Jackson, meaning that in addition to potentially retaining him for $32.4 million as opposed to the $45 million guaranteed by an exclusive tag, it also makes other clubs more likely to approach the star QB.

Jackson wouldn't have been able to try the open market if he had been signed to an exclusive tag. But because the Ravens chose to use the non-exclusive tag, other clubs will be able to negotiate with Jackson from March 13 when the legal tampering period starts.

If Lamar Jackson accepts an offer from another team, the Ravens will get a chance to match that offer or they might decide to let him sign with another team in exchange for two first-round draft picks.

Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens executives seem to have a rocky relationship. There seems to be a mismatch between Jackson's camp's perception of his worth and the team's desire to make a long-term commitment to him. As a result, people are speculating about Jackson's future with the team.

Former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski predicted that Jackson would remain in Baltimore for the upcoming season while appearing as a guest on Up & Adams. He said that although there is undoubtedly plenty happening beneath the surface, he is sure that the two parties will be able to reach common ground.

After Peyton Manning and Steve Young, Lamar Jackson is the third signal-caller to win the NFL MVP and then be given the franchise tag. Young and Manning later signed long-term contracts, so it's still very likely Jackson will sign an extension too.

The two teams he has been most heavily linked with are the New York Jets and Houston Texans, both of which are desperate for a quarterback. Aaron Rodgers, the Green Bay Packers' starting QB, is allegedly a priority for the Jets. As for the Texans, they have the No. 2 overall pick and will probably select a rookie in April.

The Las Vegas Raiders were first seen as an "extremely unlikely" candidate to be Jackson's potential club. However, ESPN's Dianna Russini revealed that the Raiders have not ruled out any quarterback possibilities, including Lamar Jackson. Thus, they’re a team to monitor.

When the league's legal tampering window starts this coming Monday, Lamar Jackson might start speaking with other teams. We'll probably have a clearer idea of which sides, if any, are keen on acquiring him.