NFL exec predictions: Lamar Jackson, A.J. Brown trades - ESPN

Making bold predictions on an upcoming NFL season is a tough business. It's like the draft — hitting on 40-50% of first-round picks is very hard to do.

We here at ESPN like the challenge so much that each January we ask industry sources around the league to forecast the season. The possibilities are limitless: free agency signings, retirements, contenders and pretenders, trades and MVP favorites.

Last year's forecast reminds us just how fast of a moving target the NFL news cycle really is. Even when the concept is right — DK Metcalf getting traded — you can pick the wrong team (Chargers instead of Steelers). Sam Darnold didn't go to the Raiders, as we predicted, but the man he replaced in Seattle, Geno Smith, did. This is a league that's impossible to pin down, that thrives off hold-my-beer theatrics. And the ripple effects of the offseason are just beginning. Just look at the coaching carousel, which was supposed to be somewhat tame — until 10 jobs opened, including those of highly decorated coaches such as Mike Tomlin (stepped down), John Harbaugh and Sean McDermott.

We're still weeks away from a robust trade market and quarterbacks changing teams. Even if futile, here are a handful of bold predictions from league executives, coaches and scouts.

This potential pairing has made its way through the rumor mill, and multiple people I spoke with who track such things used their one bold prediction in this exercise to designate Jackson a Raider.

To take Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti at his word is to assume Jackson will remain in Baltimore. Bisciotti was clear he wants a contract extension for Jackson by March.

But if we're going bold...

«It just seems like there's been some consternation there with Lamar and the Ravens, and