Pundits Discuss How Much Influence Lamar Jackson Should Have in Hiring New Head Coach
One of the main reasons the Ravens' head coaching job is universally regarded as the most desirable of the eight vacancies is the luxury of having two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson.
It goes without saying that the Ravens' next head coach and Jackson need to form a strong relationship. That raises the question of how much influence Jackson should have over who gets the job.
Reporters for The Baltimore Sun and The Baltimore Banner weighed in on the topic.
The Baltimore Sun's Sam Cohn: "A lot â but there's a line. The Ravens won't get over the hump of making it to a Super Bowl unless their two-time Most Valuable Player is happy in a system that works for him. He's the focal point of this team and the face of the franchise. To say he shouldn't have sway is like saying LeBron James should keep his paws off front office decisions. It's asinine. So, two things. The Ravens need an offensive resurgence after a year Todd Monken admitted they never really 'fired on all cylinders,' which starts with the quarterback. But giving Jackson too much say could result in a decision more consequential than his urging to sign failed experiment Jaire Alexander."
The Baltimore Sun's Brian Wacker: "The difference, of course, is that James has won four rings. ⊠This isn't to say Jackson's input shouldn't be taken into consideration. It should be. But a lot? I don't know. They should hire someone that can get the most out of Jackson â however that manifests â but also keep in mind life beyond him. He will be entering his ninth season in 2026, has plenty of talent and the defense still needs to be fixed."
The Baltimore Banner's Jonas Shaffer: "The Ravens shouldn't worry too much about whether Jackson will like the next coach's plans for the offense. He's talented enough and versatile enough to make just about any kind of scheme work. But they should consider how Jackson relates to the candidates on their short list. In an offseason with this much change, the Ravens will need total buy-in from Jackson. If the next head coach opens organized team activities with his most important player elsewhere, the optics will be bad and the on-field consequences could be worse. Jackson and the next head coach need to move in lockstep. This can't feel like an arranged marriage."
The Baltimore Banner's Giana Han: "Jackson should certainly be front of mind when picking a head coach. If he's the person you've built your team around, he should have a good relationship with the head coach. But there's also the question of how much power you want to give one player, especially one whose thoughts remain mysterious most of the time. You want someone who meshes with Jackson but who also pushes him â and he might not hand-select that coach. And while Jackson is the most important component of this roster, there are dozens of other players the head coach has to reach. I'd say Owner Steve Bisciotti should evaluate how the coach will fit with Jackson but not give him undue power."
The Baltimore Banner's Kyle Goon: "I don't know if Jackson should have extra influence over the search, but obviously the Ravens need to hire someone who can build a close personal relationship with their franchise quarterback. The future of this head coach will be tied at the hip to Jackson's success. The Ravens need someone who can relate to Jackson, command his respect and push him to new heights. I don't think it's necessary to bring in an offensive-minded coach to pick someone who can make inroads with Jackson, but it has to be one of the top three or four qualifications in the search."
ESPN Writer Predicts Ravens' Next Head Coach, John Harbaugh's Landing Spot
ESPNâs Dan Graziano made "way too early head coach landing spot predictions" for all of the openings. He had the Ravens hiring former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski.
"The Ravens know Stefanski from having played against his Browns teams for the past six years (Baltimore was 8-4 against Stefanski-coached Cleveland teams), and Stefanski is a popular candidate on this circuit," Graziano wrote. "He's a mid-Atlantic, East Coast guy who would fit in a place like here or New York. Having Lamar Jackson and a winning culture in place makes Baltimore the most appealing landing spot among the current openings. Stefanski had 13 different starting QBs in Cleveland, but he would get a true franchise passer in Jackson in Baltimore."
The Ravens completed an interview with Stefanski, 43, last Friday.
As for John Harbaugh, Graziano predicted the former Ravens head coach will take the Atlanta Falcons job. Harbaugh spoke with them Monday as he reportedly vets suitors.
"Falcons team owner Arthur Blank will be willing to spend what it takes to get the top coach available," Graziano wrote. "The Falcons are also looking for a new GM, and that could be appealing to Harbaugh, as he could have some say regarding who gets the role (though the Falcons just hired former QB Matt Ryan as president of football, and he'll obviously have plenty of say in both decisions).
The Falcons and New York Giants are among the front-runners for Harbaugh's services, according to media reports.
Ravens Named Potential Destination for A.J. Brown if He Becomes Available
There is speculation that Eagles star wide receiver A.J. Brown could be on his way out of Philadelphia. CBS Sportsâ Jordan Dajani named the Ravens among five potential landing spots for Brown if he hits the trade block.
"The franchise is looking for ways to âinvigorateâ star quarterback Lamar Jackson and find postseason success. Adding Brown can do both," Dajani wrote. "Zay Flowers is a legitimate weapon, as he had a career year with 86 catches for 1,211 yards and five touchdowns, but DeAndre Hopkins and Isaiah Likely are free agents looking for new deals.
"Brown also has a relationship with star running back Derrick Henry from their Tennessee days. They were a part of an epic AFC Championship run in 2019, when the Titans upset the No. 1-seeded Ravens in Baltimore in the divisional round. Perhaps Henry could play a role in recruiting Brown to Baltimore."
Brown, who expressed his frustration with the Eagles' underachieving offense several times during the season, had a rough game in Philadelphia's 23-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in a Wild-Card playoff game on Sunday. The three-time Pro Bowler caught just three of seven targets for 25 yards and had multiple drops. Brown also had a heated exchange with Eagles Head Coach Nick Sirianni on the sideline.
Ultimately, Dajani believes it's unlikely that Brown will be traded.
"In April 2024, Brown signed a three-year, $96 million extension that runs through the 2029 season. He is currently the No. 6 highest-paid wide receiver in terms of AAV, as his deal averages $32 million per year," Dajani wrote. "Trading Brown does not make much financial sense for the Eagles, since they are on the hook for multiple more years. As Spotrac points out, a pre-June 1 trade means the Eagles would take on the fourth-largest single-season dead cap hit in NFL history, PLUS another $20 million loss in savings."
