Falcons' Arthur Blank explains why team is out on Lamar Jackson, faces criticism

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Lamar Jackson is the best free agent left on the market even if a team other than the Baltimore Ravens is looking to acquire him and may have to give up multiple first-round draft picks.

The Atlanta Falcons are a team with young players prime to breakout over the next season. Arthur Blank, the Falcons’ team owner, made clear he was going to stick with Desmond Ridder as the starting quarterback despite the former Cincinnati standout only having two touchdown passes in the four games he started.

Blank said Tuesday he was impressed with how far Ridder has come from the first day he walked into the facility to the final game of the 2022 season.

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Desmond Ridder, #4 of the Atlanta Falcons, scrambles with the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Jan. 8, 2023 in Atlanta. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

But what about Jackson? The Ravens quarterback could be a game-changer for the franchise, and it appeared the Falcons were in the market for a quarterback last season as they were finalists for Deshaun Watson, despite Watson being in the middle of two dozen civil lawsuits accusing him of sexual misconduct. The team reportedly balked at giving Watson a fully guaranteed contract.

Blank explained the situation this year was different from last and lamented the restraints the team would have if they invested a quarter of the team’s money in a single player.

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Quarterback Lamar Jackson, #8 of the Baltimore Ravens, warms up prior to their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at