Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is once again the subject of outside speculation, and this time a prominent national voice is urging one of the franchise’s AFC rivals to consider a bold move if the former MVP ever hits the trade block.
National Voice Urges AFC Rival to Consider Lamar Jackson Trade
During a recent segment on “The Herd,” Colin Cowherd argued that the New York Jets should aggressively explore a trade for Jackson, saying the franchise is uniquely positioned to make a competitive offer and desperately needs a proven quarterback.
“The obvious team that should go look at him is the New York Jets. They have 2 first round picks.”
If the Ravens want to move on from Lamar Jackson, @colincowherd thinks the Jets should make an offer pic.twitter.com/TfM0iSkoJ4
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) December 26, 2025
“The obvious team that should go look at him is the Jets,” Cowherd said. “They have two first-round picks. They can’t develop quarterbacks … they have no history of doing that.”
Cowherd pointed to the Jets’ decade‑long offensive struggles as further justification for pursuing a star quarterback rather than attempting to develop one. “It’s been a decade straight of the Jets being atrocious offensively,” Cowherd said. “They’ve shown no ability with multiple head coaches to develop quarterbacks. They don’t have that kind of ecosystem. They’re the opposite of the Green Bay Packers, they just can’t do it.”
Cowherd added that Jackson would immediately elevate New York into postseason contention. “If he signed with the Jets, day one you’re playoff viable,” Cowherd said. “You saw what the New England Patriots did in six months. You don’t think the Jets can do that with Jackson? The Jets have some players.”
He also noted that the Jets’ draft capital and the current quarterback landscape make the idea even more compelling. “They have two first-round picks, it’s not a good quarterback draft,” Cowherd said. “Aaron Glenn wants to win now. He’s not winning with this roster. Do I explore this? Absolutely.”
New York’s offensive issues underscore Cowherd’s argument. The Jets currently hold a PFSN Offense Impact score of 60.6, which ranks 29th in the league. The Ravens sit only slightly higher at 70.2, ranking 24th with Jackson in and out of the lineup this season.
Jackson’s Contract Creates Major Obstacles for Suitors
Any hypothetical trade, however, would come with significant financial hurdles. Jackson carries massive cap hits in 2026 and 2027, each projected at roughly $74.5 million. Absorbing those numbers would be difficult for any team without a substantial contract restructure, adding another layer of complexity to an already unlikely scenario.
Jackson signed a five-year, $260 million contract with the Ravens in 2023, and the team has consistently maintained that he is the centerpiece of their long-term plans. There is no indication the team is seriously considering a trade, and the Jets have not signaled interest in pursuing one.
Still, the combination of Jackson’s star power and New York’s ongoing quarterback instability has made the hypothetical scenario a popular talking point among national analysts. As long as questions linger around both franchises, speculation about a potential blockbuster move is likely to continue.
