4 key observations from Commanders HC Ron Rivera’s owners’ meeting presser

Commanders’ disinterest in Lamar Jackson

Lamar Jackson has been the talk of the league once again this week after publicly revealing he handed in a trade request to the Baltimore Ravens before getting the non-exclusive franchise tag. This stems from a contract dispute that shows no signs of resolving effectively – leading many to believe this situation has now crossed the bitterness threshold unless there is a drastic change of heart.

Despite speculation linking Jackson with the Washington Commanders, the franchise ruled itself out of the running almost immediately. Ron Rivera shed some light on their thought process at the NFL owners’ meetings via Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports, outlining it was never considered as the team goes about roster building in a more traditional way.

"“We never did [look into it]. That’s just something that never felt suited to what we wanted to do. I know he’s a tremendous talent. I know he’s a player that can impact your team. That was just the direction for us as a football team. You look at the impact of what your roster building is and the assets we’d have to use to get him. What would the financial impact be? These are the things we’d have to think about. This is why we did what we’re doing. We are roster building — I think — for the first time.”"

Jackson is among the league’s best at the position, but this is getting more awkward with every passing day. The player is right to want the going rate after an exceptional start to his NFL career, but ownership is standing their ground collectively as they look to buck the trend started by the Cleveland Browns when they handed Deshaun Watson all that guaranteed money.

There’s no doubt whatsoever Jackson would be an upgrade on anything Washington has right now. But there is a more methodical way of conducting football business these days, which is why it became a non-starter.