GM hints Ravens could draft Lamar Jackson replacement

It appears Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta could either trade down in the upcoming NFL Draft or make a splash by acquiring a possible replacement for star quarterback Lamar Jackson. 

"It depends on the board. It really does," DeCosta said Wednesday about potentially grabbing a quarterback in the first round of the 2023 draft, according to Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. "I’d have to say yes because we have quarterbacks in our top 31. So just based on that alone, simple math, I would have to say yes." 

The Ravens currently possess overall choice No. 22 in this year's player-selection process. Baltimore could either package that asset in a trade to move up for a quarterback or hope a signal-caller DeCosta likes falls to the 20s. 

As for Jackson, his rights remain attached to the Ravens via the non-exclusive franchise tag. There's currently no sign Baltimore or any other team is willing to give the one-time NFL Most Valuable Player at least $230M in fully guaranteed money that he's allegedly looking to earn this offseason. 

DeCosta also suggested the Ravens could find a new QB1 outside of the first round later this month. 

"I don't want to insult anybody in the draft, but I would say there's probably more than four guys that can be significant quarterbacks in this league in this draft class," DeCosta added, per Nick Shook of the NFL's website. 

DeCosta pointed out that the New England Patriots famously got Tom Brady with pick No. 199 in the spring of 2000. Just last year, the San Francisco 49ers landed Brock Purdy with the draft's final selection. 

"They're all over the place in the draft," DeCosta said about quarterbacks. "You have to have good scouts, you have to have conviction and in some cases, you've got to get lucky, too."

For what it's worth, the Ravens probably felt lucky when they were able to trade back into the first round to select Jackson with pick No. 32 in 2018. It is, however, possible that DeCosta is trying to inform other clubs Baltimore may not necessarily match a massive offer made to Jackson before this year's draft. 

Per the terms of the non-exclusive tag, Baltimore can accept two first-round draft picks as compensation for Jackson.