Last Friday, Lamar Jackson publicly affirmed that he has no plans to leave Baltimore. Yet, some analysts argue that his future with the Ravens is far less certain than he suggests-especially following the departure of longtime head coach John Harbaugh.
On January 6, after a disappointing 8-9 season, the Ravens’ front office decided to make a change. Harbaugh’s dismissal signaled to many fans that the franchise was pressing the reset button.
The surprise came just days later when Harbaugh quickly landed a new role with the New York Giants, inheriting a young roster led by quarterback Jaxson Dart.
This unexpected twist left Ravens fans with more questions than answers. Analysts like Mike Florio even suggested that Harbaugh’s firing could be the first sign of Jackson’s eventual departure.
Lamar sould still leave the Ravens
On January 22, Jackson clarified that he wasn’t planning to leave Baltimore after accidentally sharing a post that appeared to predict his move to Las Vegas.
Florio, however, remains skeptical. “I don’t think it’s a given that Lamar Jackson is going to be back with the Ravens,” the Pro Football Talk analyst told Yahoo Sports Daily.
According to Florio, “There’s still a chance that Lamar Jackson decides it’s time for a fresh start for him too.” He emphasized that the two-time MVP holds significant leverage over his future.
Jackson has two years left on his contract, which includes a no-tag clause. As Florio explained, “So, he walks away two years from now as a free agent, if he wants to,” also taking the remaining money on his contract, without the team being able to stop him.
Rumors linking Jackson to Las Vegas
In recent days, speculation has grown that Jackson could join the Raiders in a blockbuster trade involving top draft prospect Fernando Mendoza.
Las Vegas is expected to select Mendoza with the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, some analysts believe the Raiders lack the time to develop a young quarterback.
In that scenario, the Raiders could trade the No. 1 pick to Baltimore, allowing the Ravens to draft Mendoza while sending Jackson to Las Vegas, well before he reaches free agency in 2027.
