Will Jets make run at acquiring former MVP QB?

New York Jets fans may not want to get their hopes up about the team possibly trading for Baltimore Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson.

After it was learned Monday that free-agent Derek Carr was signing with the New Orleans Saints, Jets beat reporter Brian Costello of the New York Post wrote that "it is hard to imagine" that general manager Joe Douglas will be "willing to give up two first-round picks" to land Jackson. Costello added that it's unlikely Jets owner Woody Johnson would give Jackson "the fully guaranteed contract he reportedly wants." 

Douglas indicated last week that any veteran signal-caller will be asked to mentor 2021 second-overall draft pick Zach Wilson. Having Wilson and Jackson share a quarterback room wouldn't make much sense for any team. 

The Jets seemingly have been holding out for Green Bay Packers star Aaron Rodgers to agree to a trade to the Big Apple but also openly flirted with Carr through the NFL combine until Monday's development. NBC Sports' Peter King previously said that he believed the Jets "will at least put their sniffers out and seriously consider Lamar Jackson" if they don't acquire Rodgers. 

Jackson earned Most Valuable Player honors for the 2019 season and allegedly wants to sign a deal similar to what the Cleveland Browns gave Deshaun Watson ($230 million in fully guaranteed money over five years) last March. 

If the Ravens retain Jackson's rights via the non-exclusive tag, he could negotiate a deal with another team, and that franchise would have to send Baltimore two first-round draft picks for the 26-year-old unless the Ravens matched the contract offer. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Jamison Hensley noted on Feb. 23 that utilizing the more expensive exclusive tag would allow Baltimore to "control the trade terms" and ask for more than two first-round choices for Jackson's services. 

Multiple insiders have suggested that Jackson could threaten that he won't play for the Ravens on the non-exclusive tag. If the Jets truly don't want to give up the necessary draft assets and money to get Jackson, it's thought the Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Falcons are among the clubs that may do business with Baltimore. 

As for the Jets, it appears they're willing to wait Rodgers out ahead of the start of free agency on March 15. If the future Hall of Famer decides to retire or chooses to play for a team other than the Jets, Gang Green may have to settle for San Francisco 49ers veteran Jimmy Garoppolo or a reunion with fan favorite Mike White.