There are NFL fans and analysts blasting teams for passing on Lamar Jackson as a potential trade asset now that the Baltimore Ravens quarterback has catapulted his way into the Most Valuable Player conversation.
However, Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank gave a much stronger admission about opting not to make a deal with the Ravens.
‘No Regrets’ – Falcons Owner Arthur Blank Says Involving Lamar Jackson
Speaking with the Atlanta media on the day teams can clean out their locker rooms, Blank was asked if he would’ve traded for Jackson if he had the chance.
Surprisingly, Blank doesn’t regret pursuing the possible (soon-to-be) two-time MVP and the QB for the AFC’s best team.
“I don’t think so. It’s easy to say ‘yes’ given his year, and he’s obviously an incredible player,” Blank began. “But we did not have the cap space.”
He adds that at the time, the Falcons felt that they had an established quarterback through their 2022 third-rounder Desmond Ridder.
“I think the coaching staff felt that we had an answer in Ridder — a younger player without that kind of contract that would’ve kept us from building the team we wanted to build,” Blank said.
While Ridder received a nice vote of confidence from the man who helps write his paychecks, the second-year passer was unfortunately replaced by Taylor Heinicke during the 2023 season.
Ridder ended his year throwing for 2,836 yards with 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He also went 6-7 overall as the starter while completing 64.2% of his passes.
Still, the jury is out on whether the former University of Cincinnati star can be a trusted NFL passer — especially with the regime change that occurred on Black Monday.
Arthur Smith, who orchestrated the drafting of Ridder, was the first head coach fired on Monday. The Falcons announced his dismissal after midnight on Monday morning. Smith never won more than seven games in all three of his seasons with the franchise.
Blank Reveals ‘Problem’ That’s Occurred for the Falcons
While Blank is sticking to his belief that there was no need for Jackson, he did acknowledge one problem that has faced the Falcons in his time as owner.
“What’s happened to us too often in the past is we’ve drafted well, brought them along, but we got to year four and five, and we had to let them go because we didn’t have the cap space,” Blank said.
MORE: NFL Black Monday Tracker
He then admitted that this philosophy hadn’t worked with Atlanta.
“That’s not a good formula. We want to be able to raise our own children and keep our own children as best as we can,” Blank explained.
But again, the Falcons have been among the teams being debated as having one of the worst 2023 decisions in choosing to pass on Jackson before he settled on his blockbuster Ravens deal.
“You can debate whether or not he would’ve been available or not. Who knows if they were able to match whatever offers were on the table? But he’s a great player. He certainly had a great year,” Blank said.
Regardless, quarterback is looking like a need heading into the 2024 offseason for Atlanta. PFN’s Joe Broback currently has Heisman Trophy-winning QB Jayden Daniels of LSU as the Falcons’ selection at No. 9 overall.
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