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The New England Patriots have reportedly decided not to pursue quarterback Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens, despite earlier rumors to the contrary.
A source told The Athletic reporter Jeff Howe, that the Patriots have no plans to acquire the talented MVP quarterback, despite his expressed interest in joining the team.
The news came as a disappointment to many New England fans, especially considering recent comments by Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who talked about the possibility of adding Jackson to the Pats roster. Kraft didn’t publicly shut it down the idea, but said the decision is ultimately up to coach Bill Belichick.
Speaking at the NFL’s annual meetings on Monday, Kraft revealed that he had received a text from rapper Meek Mill, indicating that Jackson was interested in joining the Patriots.
#Patriots owner Robert Kraft was told that Lamar Jackson wanted to sign with the #Patriots, by rapper Meek Mill.
Kraft answered him that would be Bill Belichick’s decision (@AlbertBreer) pic.twitter.com/oZM2gzRRsz
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) March 27, 2023
Despite the apparent interest from Jackson and the endorsement from Meek Mill, the Patriots have apparently decided to stick with up-and-down third-year passer Mac Jones. The reasons for the team’s decision is not entirely clear, but it seems likely that concerns over Jackson’s high price tag may have played a role.
As many football fans will already know, the Ravens recently placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Jackson, which would require any team that signs him to give up two first-round picks in exchange. This hefty price tag may have deterred the Patriots, who are already dealing with a number of financial constraints as they try to rebuild their roster.
In light of the Patriots’ decision not to pursue him, Jackson has reportedly requested a trade from the Ravens. The talented young quarterback is widely regarded as one of the most exciting players in the league, and there is no doubt that many teams would be interested in adding him to their rosters. However, so far no team has come forward publicly to express interest in trading for Jackson.
It remains to be seen what the future holds for Jackson, the Ravens, and the Patriots. However, with the NFL draft just around the corner, it seems likely that there will be plenty of action and intrigue in the coming weeks and months as teams jostle for position and look to build their rosters for the upcoming season.