Lamar Jackson is increasingly feeling the strain: his desire to leave the Baltimore Ravens is growing, but he’s struggling to attract interest from other teams as free-agent opportunities dwindle.
The NFL has now issued a memo warning teams about Ken Francis, Jackson’s business partner, who is reportedly trying to arrange a deal for Jackson despite lacking NFL Players Association certification. On Thursday, the league instructed all 32 teams to avoid dealings with Francis.
Jackson responded sharply to the memo, denying any attempts by Francis to negotiate on his behalf. “Stop lying that man never tried to negotiate for me,” he tweeted Thursday night.
Per the league’s collective bargaining agreement, teams can only negotiate directly with Jackson since he does not have a certified agent. Jackson is currently exploring opportunities with a $32.4 million nonexclusive franchise tag from the Ravens, which allows him to seek a better or matching offer from other teams.
Francis, in an interview with ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, asserted that he has not approached teams on Jackson’s behalf. “I don’t speak for Lamar,” Francis clarified, emphasizing that he only collaborates with Jackson on portable gym equipment. Jackson later tweeted about their upcoming product, The Entire Gym, set for release this summer.
According to Pro Football Talk, a non-certified representative has reached out to multiple teams to spark negotiations for Jackson. The NFL’s memo outlines that Francis, lacking certification, is barred from negotiating contracts or trades for Jackson.
The Baltimore Sun notes that Jackson’s situation may remain unresolved for some time. Although no serious offers have been made, Jackson has been associated with several teams including the Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions, and Houston Texans—all potential candidates for a quarterback upgrade.
With the franchise tag in place, Jackson’s situation is less urgent. He may skip offseason training activities, minicamp, and training camp if no deal is reached. Ravens’ new offensive coordinator Todd Monken has tried to downplay the impact of Jackson’s absence, but there is no clear resolution in sight. The Ravens could potentially trade Jackson on draft day if the right offer emerges.