Heading into the offseason, the Las Vegas Raiders need to find a long-term solution at the quarterback position. The Silver and Black attempted to use Geno Smith as a stopgap; however, that didn’t go as planned.
Entering the final two games of the 2025 NFL season, Smith has a passer rating of 85.7 with 2,849 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions in 14 games this season, per StatMuse.
As a result, the Raiders, if they can secure the top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, could go the drafting route to secure a quarterback. However, might Las Vegas go the trade route again? FOX Sports’ Colin Cowherd believes that the Raiders and Miami Dolphins could be a landing spot for the Baltimore Ravens‘ Lamar Jackson amid the latest news on the star quarterback.
“The guys with 47-inch vertical jumps, they can age very, very quickly,” Cowherd said on the December 24 edition of “The Herd.” “It’s a very concerning story. I’ve always been a huge fan of Lamar Jackson, but next year, his cap hit is 24 percent of Baltimore’s cap. Bo Nix, his is less than two percent, Caleb Williams, less than four percent. So the Ravens are not a low self-esteem franchise. I’ve talked about this for a year.
“Cleveland, I mean, they’ll guarantee the Deshaun Watson’s contract because they have such low sport self-esteem. Baltimore, arguably best owner in the game. Great owner. Great coach, great equity, great fans, unbelievable brand. I could absolutely see them taking a phone call from the Raiders or the Dolphins. Absolutely.”
Lamar Jackson Faces Criticism Leading to the Raiders Take
The question is, why would the Ravens consider trading Jackson? Well, there’s a new claim regarding the Baltimore star that could lead to a potential move. The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston was blunt in his assessment of Lamar Jackson, highlighting a gifted quarterback who might need to rethink his approach.
In his December 23 column, “Ravens, Lamar Jackson are at a crossroads,“ Preston questioned Jackson’s off-field habits, pointing to late nights spent on video games and reportedly dozing off during team meetings. He also suggested the Ravens have adjusted to Jackson’s routine, including scheduling practices later in the day to suit him.
“A major problem, a lot of it on the Ravens, is that there are team rules and then there are rules for Jackson,“ Preston wrote. “That’s why Baltimore practices in the heat of the afternoon instead of in the morning. Once the Ravens become critical of Jackson, he becomes more withdrawn. It’s a shame because Jackson isn’t a mean-spirited person, just an overgrown kid in an adult’s body.”
The Finances the Ravens Face Keeping Lamar Jackson
Moreover, Baltimore might be weighing the financial commitment that it has to Jackson. The Ravens star carries $74.5 million cap hits in 2026 and 2027, per Spotrac. He is expected to make $52 million in cash each season; 5th-highest next year, 3rd-most in 2027.
FOX Sports’ Nick Wright also believes that the relationship between the Ravens and Jackson is at a crossroads heading into the offseason.
“Appreciate [Mike Preston] putting in print what I’ve been alluding to all year: There’s a real [and] obvious disconnect with Lamar [and] John Harbaugh, and the Ravens (correctly) feel Lamar has some growing up to do,“ Wright wrote December 24 on X.
Raiders, Dolphins Get Lamar Jackson Take Amid Latest Claim