'Bill's Decision': Patriots Owner Robert Kraft Leaves Door Open For Lamar Jackson Trade

Lamar Jackson is available after announcing his trade request from Baltimore. Are the New England Patriots going to pursue the star quarterback?

Are the New England Patriots interested in Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson? 

Jackson expressed his desire to leave the Ravens publicly in a Twitter thread on Monday, explaining to fans that he didn't feel the organization would pay his value. This revelation took centerstage in Phoenix, Arizona, for the NFL Owners meeting, right as coaches met with the media, many of whom it was their first time since the end of last season as it was for Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.

Belichick was asked about Jackson during his media scrum, where he denied to even speak of the former Heisman-winning quarterback. "I'm not going to talk about players on any other team," Belichick said.

When the reporter pointed out that Jackson is still technically a free agent after the Ravens placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on him, Belichick said, "period." This abrupt and abrasive handling of the media is a trademark of Belichick's, but does it mean the Patriots aren't interested in a potential Jackson trade?

Not quite.

When Patriots owner Robert Kraft spoke to the media later in the day, he said that rapper Meek Mill contacted him three or four days ago to inform him of Jackson's interest in playing in New England. But... 

"That's Bill's decision," Kraft said of any trade for the Ravens quarterback.

That's also not a "No."

After a disappointing 2022 for the Patriots, where they finished 8-9, missing out on the playoffs in a season where the offense and a once-promising second-year quarterback Mac Jones seemingly regressed, New England went out hired experienced offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien, for his second stint in Foxboro, along with adding some playmakers on offense.

The Patriots signed wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, tight end Mike Geisicki, and running back James Robinson to add weapons to an offense that desperately needed some.

A trade for Jackson could make sense for the Patriots as it would be an upgrade at quarterback, but are they willing to pay the price of a new contract and the trade?

If New England wants the quarterback, they will surrender two first-round picks due to the non-exclusive tag. As for the Ravens, landing the Patriots' No. 14 overall pick would be a nice gift in exchange for losing their franchise quarterback.

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