The Las Vegas Raiders hold the No. 1 overall pick in April’s NFL Draft - a spot that typically signals a franchise reset, often with a young quarterback at the center. For weeks, the expectation was that Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, a rising star with all the tools of a modern-day signal-caller, would be the pick.
But now? The conversation is shifting in a major way.
According to reports, the Raiders might be eyeing a blockbuster move - one that would shake up not only their own future but the entire NFL quarterback landscape. The name being floated? Lamar Jackson.
Yes, that Lamar Jackson - two-time NFL MVP, 2016 Heisman winner, and one of the most electrifying quarterbacks in the league when he’s on. At 29, Jackson is coming off a frustrating season with the Baltimore Ravens, who stumbled to an 8-9 finish and missed the playoffs.
The fallout was immediate, with longtime head coach John Harbaugh shown the door. And now, the door might be open for Jackson’s exit as well.
The idea, reportedly, is that Las Vegas could offer up that coveted No. 1 pick to Baltimore in exchange for Jackson. It’s a bold play - the kind of move that signals the Raiders are done tinkering and ready to go all-in. And with Tom Brady, now a minority owner and increasingly involved in team operations, looming in the background, the push for a splashy move makes even more sense.
“There’s a feeling out there that the Raiders are going to make a play for Lamar,” said NFL insider Mike Florio. “Offer the first-overall pick in the draft for Lamar Jackson.”
It’s a swing-for-the-fences type of move, and exactly the kind of aggressiveness Raiders fans have been craving after a 3-14 season that felt like a team stuck in neutral. Last year’s changes were more cosmetic than foundational. This year, the pressure is on to take a real step forward - and Brady’s presence only amplifies that urgency.
“Tom Brady feels compelled to do something,” Florio added. “It may not work, but just do something. It doesn’t seem like they’re doing anything.”
Of course, there are plenty of hurdles between rumor and reality. Jackson is under contract for two more seasons after signing a five-year, $260 million deal with the Ravens in May 2023 - a deal that made him the highest-paid player in the league at the time.
That kind of contract doesn’t just complicate trades; it makes them financially treacherous. If Baltimore were to move him, the dead money hit would be significant.
That’s why any potential deal would likely have to come after June 1. Post-June 1 trades allow teams to spread the cap hit over two seasons, offering some relief - but it’s still a tough pill to swallow.
And then there’s the no-trade clause. Jackson has the power to veto any deal he doesn’t like, meaning he’d have to sign off on a move to Vegas.
For now, Jackson isn’t entertaining the speculation. After the Ravens’ season-ending loss to the Steelers in Week 18, he was asked about his future and brushed it aside.
“I’m not even thinking about that right now, to be honest with you,” he said. “I’m still caught up in what just happened. That’s not my focus right now.”
And fair enough. Jackson’s 2025 campaign was a mixed bag - 192 completions on 302 attempts for 2,549 yards, 21 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
He added 349 yards and two scores on the ground, showing flashes of the dual-threat brilliance that’s defined his career. But the Ravens’ offense never found its rhythm, and the team’s struggles have led to serious questions about what comes next.
For Jackson, the Super Bowl remains elusive. Drafted 32nd overall in 2018, he’s been the face of the Ravens for nearly a decade but has yet to get over the hump in the postseason. And now, with a new coaching staff incoming and a potential rebuild on the horizon, both sides may be approaching a crossroads.
If the Raiders are truly ready to offer the top pick for Jackson, it would be one of the biggest trades in recent memory - a win-now move for a team that’s been searching for a franchise quarterback since the Derek Carr era ended. It would also be a gamble, but one that could pay off in a big way if Jackson regains MVP form in silver and black.
Nothing’s official yet. The draft is still months away.
But if you’re in Las Vegas, keep an eye on this one. The Raiders might be ready to bet big - and Lamar Jackson could be the jackpot they’re chasing.