The Atlanta Falcons and Baltimore Ravens both had an abysmal Week 8. Atlanta was shut down in a 16-0 loss to the Buccaneers, a divisional game it really needed. Michael Penix Jr. had the worst game of his career, throwing four interceptions, and was outplayed by Baker Mayfield, who completed as many passes as the fans watching from home.
Baltimore lost 36-10 to fellow AFC contender Buffalo, but that wasn't the worst part of the afternoon. Lamar Jackson suffered a thumb injury on his first pass attempt, resulting in him being placed on season-ending IR, as Tyler Huntley's injury forced them to turn to undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano--and in his first start on Thursday, the Ravens lost to the Jaguars 33-10.
Jackson's injury, combined with an uncertain contract situation, has led to rumblings about him playing elsewhere in 2027 and beyond. And given Ian Cunningham and Eric DeCosta spent eight years working together in Baltimore, they clearly have a positive working relationship.
If the two-time MVP being traded this offseason is a real possibility, the Falcons could be the ideal trade partner. There are several teams that would be willing to make a blockbuster deal for Jackson, but Atlanta is arguably in the best position to go through with it.
On paper, Atlanta is a frontrunner to pull off a trade for Lamar Jackson
This isn't the first time the Falcons have been connected to Jackson. In the 2023 offseason, there were rumors surrounding Atlanta acquiring him before Jackson signed a five-year, $260 million contract to stay in Baltimore. While the Falcons opted not to make a move three years ago, things could be different this time around.
With Jackson out, the 4-5 Ravens may look to sell at the deadline. What DeCosta decides to do by Tuesday could be an indicator of Jackson's future with the team. If the Ravens sell hard at the deadline, in particular trading away Derrick Henry, it's a sign they are heading towards a rebuild.
2027 is the final year of Jackson's contract, and he carries a cap hit north of $84 million next season. That would be a major commitment for a Dirty Birds team that has over $140 million in 2027 cap space and more key players to extend, but he would solve a lot of their issues.
If Baltimore is rebuilding, it may decide against extending Jackson. Having a veteran quarterback take up a large chunk of cap space when rebuilding the roster doesn't make much sense. Jackson may also want out if the Ravens aren't set up to contend in the near future.
It's worth noting that the superstar quarterback has a no-trade clause, meaning he would have to sign off on his destination if a trade were to take place. If he and Baltimore want to part ways, he will likely want to go to a team that has a roster that's ready to win now.
Teams like the Dolphins and Jets have been floated as trade candidates, Miami in particular, since Jackson is from South Florida. With that being said, those are teams that aren't set up to contend right now. Jackson turns 30 in January, and with his injury history, being able to compete for a Super Bowl sooner rather than later is important.
The Falcons have a roster that can make a deep playoff run, and Jackson makes them an instant frontrunner in the NFC. Pairing him with Bijan Robinson and a good offensive line is a terrifying thought for the rest of the league. Good luck defending that option play if you're an opposing DC.
Drake London would also give him the best wide receiver he's had in his career. While Zay Flowers has emerged as a quality top receiver, London would be an upgrade.
Atlanta also has the capital needed to pull off a trade of this magnitude. The Falcons have the most cap space in the NFL in 2027, so they can pay Jackson at the top of the quarterback market. Atlanta also holds all of its first-round picks for the next three years, which it will need to acquire Jackson.
Now, this isn't to say the Falcons have given up hope on Penix; he's been mostly good since returning from injury, outside of his last outing against Tampa Bay. However, his injury history and small sample size of high-level play understandably would make Ian Cunningham hesitant to commit long-term. Penix is up for an extension, and if Atlanta is going to give out a massive contract at the most expensive position, why not give said contract to the future Hall of Famer?
There are some obstacles that could prevent the Falcons from making this move. First off, it's far from a guarantee that the Ravens will wind up trading Jackson. Baltimore could still feel it's in a good spot to compete for a Super Bowl and run things back in 2027.
Trading for Jackson is also an incredibly risky move. As great as he is, giving up multiple first-round picks (and likely more), along with allocating a significant amount of cap space to one player, is always risky. Jackson is as good as any quarterback in football when healthy, but durability has been an issue, with him missing time in four of the past six seasons.
There are a lot of factors going into this trade even being a possibility, and maybe nothing comes to fruition like in 2023. With that being said, there's plenty of justification for this move for Atlanta, Baltimore, and Jackson.
Even if the Ravens want to extend their star quarterback, the two sides may not be on the same page as far as what the contract looks like. If Baltimore isn't willing to meet Jackson's demands, there are plenty of other teams that will.
Kevin Stefanski is plenty familiar with Lamar Jackson after coaching against him in the NFC North, so if he's willing to make a major win-now splash, the Falcons are in an excellent position to meet his asking price and complete a trade with the Ravens.
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