ESPN: Lamar Jackson 'Irked by Some of' Ravens' Negotiating Tactics in Contract Talks

In case the public trade request wasn't evidence enough, Lamar Jackson's relationship with the Baltimore Ravens is reportedly severely damaged.

Dan Graziano of ESPN reported Jackson is so "irked" with the Ravens' handling of contract negotiations that he would potentially accept an offer from another team that he would not if offered by Baltimore.

The 2019 NFL MVP has gone on the offensive in recent days regarding his future, publicly revealing he requested a trade on March 2:

The Ravens responded by using their non-exclusive franchise tag on Jackson on March 7, which allows other teams to negotiate a long-term contract. Baltimore would then have the right to match an offer sheet or receive two first-round picks as compensation for Jackson.

What's transpired in the three-plus weeks since has been nothing short of strange. Jackson has seemingly been met with crickets on the open market, as more teams have gone out of their way to say they're not pursuing him than to make a push for a 26-year-old franchise quarterback in the prime of his career.

While several teams have been mentioned as potential suitors, there has been no tangible evidence tying Jackson to any organization. Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III said he believes the evidence points to owners colluding against Jackson, but there has also been no proof of that, either.

Instead, we're left with one of the strangest stalemates in NFL history—one that could drag into the summer. There is little chance Jackson willingly plays for the $32.4 million franchise tag, which sets a semi-hard July deadline to get either a new contract or a trade done. If a deal isn't done by then, it's not outside the realm of possibility that Jackson sits out some or all of the 2023 season.

Le'Veon Bell took this route in 2018 and was able to force himself into free agency a year later.