OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Even as Lamar Jackson was simultaneously announcing his March 2 trade request on Twitter last week, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh stuck to the same script at the owners meetings, expressing adoration and effusive praise for his star quarterback.
But the organization’s tone changed during Wednesday’s pre-draft press conference.
General manager Eric DeCosta declined to comment on Jackson’s trade request and whether he’s spoken to him since then. In fact, none of DeCosta, Harbaugh, or director of player personnel Joe Hortiz even mentioned Jackson by name over the course of the 37-minute session.
Despite the efforts of the Ravens’ public relations staff to steer discussion away from Jackson before and during the event, the NFL’s media policy describes the pre-draft press conference’s purpose being “to respond to fan interest in the draft and offseason squad development and promote a key league and club event.” In other words, there was nothing out of bounds about media asking about the status of the franchise’s best and most important player, which certainly falls under the umbrella of “offseason squad development.” This annual event — which is required by the league — has always included relevant roster questions in addition to draft talk.
In my media experiences, a request for reporters not to dwell on a specific topic during a press conference isn’t unprecedented, but that typically comes with an understanding that the aforementioned subject will be addressed to some degree. It’s not as though it would have been all that difficult for DeCosta to address Jackson’s trade request and status after discussing contract talks for more than two years now.
While DeCosta noted the organization has discussed “this situation probably five different times this spring in various different press conferences and such,” Wednesday was the first time the general manager had spoken to reporters since the Ravens placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Jackson and the former MVP revealed his trade request to the public, significant developments in this saga. It was also only the second time DeCosta has spoken with reporters in Owings Mills since last year’s draft. Of course, it’s also been several years since owner Steve Bisciotti — who would be most relevant in addressing this impasse — took questions at the team’s training facility.
But the Ravens do have every right to decline to answer a question from reporters — and, by extension, the team’s fans.
Still, the shift in tone is telling.
In the organization’s defense, what can the brass really say publicly and constructively at this point? On the other hand, even the extraordinary timing of Jackson’s trade announcement didn’t deter Harbaugh from continuing to be overwhelmingly positive answering questions last week.
The approach and demeanor the Ravens took on Wednesday didn’t inspire much confidence for a happy resolution with their superstar. And regardless of whom anyone holds at fault, the situation is feeling more disconcerting by the week, especially when Baltimore’s only outside acquisition through the first three weeks of free agency is maligned veteran wide receiver Nelson Agholor. That’s no way to try to build a Super Bowl-caliber roster.
A year or two ago, the mere thought that the Ravens would consider drafting a quarterback in the first round later this month would have been preposterous, but that very question was posed Wednesday.
“It depends on the board. It really does,” DeCosta said. “I mean, I’d have to say yes because we have quarterbacks in our top 31. Just based on that alone, simple math, I would have to say yes.”
Of course, that acknowledgement alone means little as the Ravens continue to play a negotiating game with Jackson and the rest of the NFL. There’s also the reality of picking 22nd overall and how early the top four quarterbacks are projected to go off the board. If Baltimore has legitimate designs of taking a quarterback in the first round, the best bet at No. 22 would likely be Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker, who is still recovering from a torn ACL suffered last November.
But even if the Ravens still mostly anticipate Jackson being their quarterback in 2023, how can they assume anything at this point?
Though enjoying the leverage with no apparent interest from other teams — at least for now — what even constitutes a win for the Ravens if Jackson refuses to come off his asking price? Is the trade request more of a negotiating ploy or a demand suggesting the working relationship has run its course? Would Jackson playing on the tag — depending on when he even decides to show up in Owings Mills — be all that fruitful considering the potential sore feelings and roster limitations his status has spawned?
Much like Wednesday’s pre-draft press conference, the whole situation feels pretty miserable.
Whether the Ravens want to talk about it or not.
