Lamar Jackson for Tua? NFL Exec '100%' Would Trade Ravens QB for Dolphins QB, 4 1st-Round Picks

In addition to finding a new head coach this offseason, one of the top priorities for the Baltimore Ravens will be figuring out the future of star quarterback Lamar Jackson.

In 2026, Jackson's cap hit will rise to a whopping $74.5 million, and he has three years remaining on his current deal, per Spotrac. While a contract restructure could be necessary for the 29-year-old, an executive from another team told The Athletic's Mike Sando that they would rather avoid the financial headache by trading Jackson to the Miami Dolphins for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and four first-round draft picks.

"Does a 32-year-old Lamar Jackson scare you?" the exec said. "If you are Baltimore, would you trade Lamar to Miami for Tua (Tagovailoa) and four ones? You get something for taking Tua's deal off their hands. I 100 percent would trade him."

ESPN's Jamison Hensley pointed out that Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti recently reaffirmed his commitment to Jackson, and he reported that Baltimore "is looking for a new deal to reduce Jackson's $74.5 million salary cap figure in 2026 before free agency in March, and it'll probably take making him the league's highest paid player at over $60 million per season to do so." It sounds like the team is looking to continue building around the two-time NFL MVP this offseason.

"A deal with Lamar would give us the ability to be more active, to re-sign some more players on the team and to potentially go after a couple of big-ticket items," Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said.

Tagovailoa, who is making $56.4 million in 2026. threw for 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions this season. The Dolphins missed the playoffs for a second straight year with a 7-10 record, and he was benched in the fourth quarter of their 31-6 loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 7 before being permanently replaced by rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers as the team's starter for the final three games of the year.

Tagovailoa was limited to 11 games in 2024 after suffering his third concussion in the last three years in a Week 2 game against the Buffalo Bills. The 27-year-old has become the face of player safety following his scary moments on the field. During the 2022 season, he suffered two concussions and a third head trauma incident. His history with concussions raised questions about his future in the NFL, and he admitted that he considered retirement following the 2022 campaign amid concerns from his family.

Trading Jackson would officially kick off a new era in Baltimore and send shockwaves around the NFL. Still, the Ravens will have to consider all options this offseason while searching for a replacement for former head coach John Harbaugh.