This wasn’t what anyone had on their 2026 Lamar Jackson Offseason Bingo Card.
The Baltimore Ravens quarterback, 2-time NFL MVP and likely future Pro Football Hall of Famer sent the internet into a frenzy on Thursday by retweeting a post about the possibility of him being traded to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Is this a good time to point out my (then) 3 year old MAY have predicted the potential move of Lamar Jackson to the Raiders?” X user Shantel Lopez wrote with a picture attached of a smiling young boy in Jackson’s No. 8 Ravens jersey and holding a miniature football with the Raiders logo on it.”
It was Jackson’s first tweet since January 4 — and to add even more intrigue to the whole thing he took the retweet down and posted a less-than-believable reason for doing so.
“Lol I just posted the kid in the jersey didn’t even read the caption,” Jackson wrote on X with a laughing crying emoji and facepalm emoji after it.
Jackson has been the subject of rampant trade rumors after the Ravens entered the season as Super Bowl contenders but finished 8-9 and missed the playoffs in a year in which he missed 4 games due to injuries and seemed like a shell of his former self until a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the regular season finale.
Unfortunately for the Ravens, the only person who can approve a Jackson trade is the man himself. Acting as his own agent, he had a no-trade clause written into the 5-year, $262 million contract he signed before the 2023 season.
Raiders Could Swap No. 1 Overall Pick for Jackson
The most clear cut way the Raiders could land Jackson is by offering the Ravens the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft, where they could draft Indiana quarterback, CFP National Champion and Heisman Trophy Winner Fernando Mendoza.
The Raiders could do that, then work out what else comes with the deal as well — likely a defensive starter. If they want to keep things simple just offer up the No. 1 pick along with NFL All-Pro edge rusher Maxx Crosby.
Fox Sports suggested Jackson could find a new home with the Raiders because they have $104 million in salary cap space which could mean they could handle Jackson’s looming contract extension along with bringing in some talent to put around him.
From Fox Sports: “Luckily for Las Vegas, one of the best quarterbacks of the last 10 years could be available in the coming months. Jackson would certainly elevate a Raiders offense that’s looked pedestrian, at best, over the last few seasons, and rank last in yards and scoring entering Week 17. Of course, that could also work against the Raiders in their possible pursuit of Jackson if he were to get a say in his next destination.”
Raiders Missing One Key Component: Head Coach
One thing the Raiders don’t have? A head coach. They’re on the lookout for a new leader after Pete Carroll was fired following a 3-14 record in 2025 in his first season.
Whoever the Raiders do hire will be their fifth head coach since 2020, following Jon Gruden, Josh McDaniels, Antonio Pierce and Carroll.
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson Shocks With Social Media Post on Trade