The Atlanta Falcons may have at least discussed the idea of adding Lamar Jackson, but they ultimately decided not to make a run at the 26-year-old quarterback.
Last week, Atlanta head coach Arthur Smith appeared on “The Rich Eisen Show” and said that the team did explore signing Jackson before nixing the idea and rolling with second-year pro Desmond Ridder.
“Look at the people that are willing to make trades, and they happen quick now, and I think any time any player, it’s our job to understand the markets that’s going on, and who’s available, who’s not, do they fit, and there’s a lot of things that go into it,” Smith told Eisen. “With those transactions, where you’re willing to spend in the salary cap, and there’s great debates, certainly makes your shows more interesting, and that’s great for the league, but at the end of the day you’ve got to do what you think is best for your team and what you’re building and how it fits into that puzzle.
“And like I said there’s a lot of great players and they become available it seems now more than ever. I mean look at the deals that were done a year ago and you’ve got a quarterback that’s on a huge deal a year ago that’s available now. And that was unheard of 20 years ago.”
Yes, the @AtlantaFalcons talked about Lamar Jackson but as Arthur Smith told us, they’re confident in their plan going forward with Desmond Ridder:#NFL #NFLFreeAgency #NFLDraft @Lj_era8 @desmondridder #DirtyBirds pic.twitter.com/vccKL8pKdW
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) March 31, 2023
Smith’s comments come after Falcons owner Arthur Blank raised eyebrows by saying Jackson’s situation is “very different” than Deshaun Watson’s last offseason.
Atlanta pursued Watson heavily, despite his off-field legal issues and the fact he sought a lucrative contract. Combine Smith’s words with Blank’s comments and it’s understandable why people are confused about the Falcons’ decisions.
“If the Falcons have any fans they should be picket signing these idiots to make ’em do something,” one person tweeted.
If the Falcons have any fans they should be picket signing these idiots to make em do something https://t.co/k3HwH1bEZf
— The Angry Bodyguard (@Getatmedawg215) April 2, 2023
“I’m a Saints fan and I do not understand this at all,” another person wrote. “Lamar Jackson has won an MVP award and hasn’t really been involved with many scandals. Watson, meanwhile, has had 2 torn ACLs and is a predator and yet they’re saying he has issues with availability.”
“The owner rather try to sell the farm for a guy with 30+ sex charges instead of a guy with a better resume #MakeItMakeSense,” a third person chimed in.
The owner rather try to sell the farm for a guy with 30+ sex charges instead of a guy with a better resume 🤦🏽♂️ #MakeItMakeSense https://t.co/mFwkCXWUC5
— JohnStaySavage 👾👾 (@LosoyaLB2015) April 2, 2023
Watson, of course, wound up signing a $230 million contract with the Cleveland Browns after being acquired via trade.
Because of the non-exclusive franchise tag, the Ravens have the right to match any offer sheet Jackson gets. This is likely a major reason why teams have been hesitant to pursue the former MVP.