Rob Gronkowski reveals why Patriots won’t land Lamar Jackson

April 7, 2023 ndowd

While former tight end Rob Gronkowski said quarterback Lamar Jackson would be a good fit on the New England Patriots, he also explained why it won’t happen.

The Baltimore Ravens are currently dealing with uncertainty regarding quarterback Lamar Jackson. While they placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Jackson, allowing him to explore a contract elsewhere, there have been no takers, despite their need for a quarterback. One team that was linked to Jackson were the New England Patriots, via a text message from rapper Meek Mill to team owner Robert Kraft.

During an appearance on FanDuelTV’s “Up and Adams” with Kay Adams, former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski said that while he believes Jackson would be a good fit for the team, he revealed why the team won’t acquire him. The reason is — his contract demands.

“I think he would be a good fit, in a way. At the same time, I don’t think he would be a good fit. It kind of goes both ways,” Gronkowski said, h/t NESN. “I feel like Coach Belichick always kind of dreamed of a quarterback — not just a pocket passer, but a Lamar Jackson-type. The one that can run the ball as well. I just feel like he likes those types of quarterbacks from all the times he talked about them in meetings and stuff when we were going against them.

“So, that’s why it would be a good fit. It wouldn’t be a good fit at the same time because he has to pay him $50-plus million and he’s not paying $50-plus million for a quarterback. So therefore it’s not a good fit off the bat because of that reason. So, I don’t think that’s going to go down at all.”

Rob Gronkowski reveals why he doesn’t think Patriots will acquire Lamar Jackson

There was a dispute as to what Jackson was looking for in a contract, with the initial belief being that he was seeking a fully guaranteed deal. However, ESPN’s Dan Graziano said that after having conversations at the annual league meetings in Phoenix, Ariz., he no longer believes that Jackson wants a fully guaranteed deal, but he wants to get guarantees worth more than the $230 million that Deshaun Watson received with the Cleveland Browns.

Not only is there the contract portion for teams to worry about. There is also the fact that if they sign him to an offer sheet and the Ravens opt against matching it, then that team will have to give up a first-round pick in each of the next two NFL Drafts.

As for the Patriots, Kraft said that the decision to add Jackson would be up to head coach Bill Belichick. But The Athletic’s Jeff Howe reports that Jackson joining the Patriots isn’t going to happen.

The Ravens, meanwhile, are not even talking about Jackson, as was evidenced by a member of the team’s public relations team shutting down a question about the quarterback during a recent press conference. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta did say in that very press conference that there is a possibility they use a first-round pick on a quarterback, but stressed that it would “depend on the board.”

Ravens GM Eric DeCosta was asked if taking a QB in the first round was a consideration this year.

“Depends on the board,” DeCosta said.

He added that, because the Ravens have QBs ranked among their top 31 players, that it is a possibility.

— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) April 5, 2023