The Las Vegas Raiders‘ brass was in full force to watch Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza in the National Championship game. Considering he played well and showed a lot of toughness in the win, many are ready to pencil him in as the Raiders’ quarterback next year.
However, there are still some people around the NFL who believe the Raiders could be eyeing a different quarterback. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler made a bold prediction that Las Vegas is going to trade for Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
“This potential pairing has made its way through the rumor mill, and multiple people I spoke with who track such things used their one bold prediction in this exercise to designate Jackson a Raider,” Fowler wrote.
This isn’t a random prediction Fowler pulled out of nowhere. According to the insider, there’s a belief in some circles around the NFL that the Raiders are actually going to make a push to trade for the two-time MVP.
“It just seems like there’s been some consternation there with Lamar and the Ravens, and this would be the ultimate Mark Davis move,” an NFL personnel evaluator told Fowler. “I’m not even convinced everybody with Vegas would be on board with it but it would instantly solve their quarterback problems.”
Trading For Jackson Now Doesn’t Make Much Sense
If the Ravens actually want to trade Jackson, the Raiders have the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, which might be the best asset they could get. It gives them the chance to immediately replace Jackson and start over at quarterback.
From the Raiders’ perspective, it’s hard to see how making this trade would make sense. Jackson is an incredible player and one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. He would be one of the best quarterbacks the Raiders have ever had in the history of the franchise.
The reason it doesn’t make sense to trade for him is that Jackson is 29 and has dealt with injury issues throughout his career. The Raiders have so much work to do on the roster. They would not be setting Jackson up for success. It makes far more sense for a team like the Indiana Colts that has a strong roster and no quarterback to trade for him.
Jackson May Have Some Tension With Ravens
It would’ve previously been unthinkable that the Ravens would trade Jackson. He’s been the face of the franchise for years and is already considered the best quarterback to ever play for the team.
However, he seems to have some tension with the team stemming from this season.
“From chemistry issues with the previous coaching staff to concerns about his availability, Jackson’s relationship with the Ravens does not seem to be in the best spot,” Fowler wrote. “Baltimore probably realizes life with a two-time MVP is better than life without, which would mean a big contract offer is coming. But this is a situation to monitor, and how Jackson hits it off with the new head coach feels significant.”
Jackson’s good enough to overlook a lot of issues, but it’s highly unlikely the Ravens would be able to find a better quarterback.
Exec Leaks Head-Turning Raiders-Lamar Jackson Trade Update