WATCH: ESPN analyst delivers hot take on Lamar Jackson, Ravens following round one
ESPN analyst Mina Kimes had some choice words for former NFL MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson. After the Ravens brokered a trade sending young up-and-coming receiver Marquise Hollywood Brown to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for the 23rd overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Jackson tweeted out his disdain for the deal shortly after it was announced. However, the way Kimes’ sees it, Lamar Jackson should still be happy even after the Brown trade.
On Friday, during the ESPN draft special, the crew debated and talked about the opening night of the NFL draft. A night that featured a multitude of NFL records, including nine round-one trades. When asked whether Jackson should be happy about Baltimore’s decision to move on from Brown, Kimes had this to say.
“They got two players [in the draft] who are head and shoulders the best at their position. … This Ravens team is better now than they were last week,” said Kimes.
Kimes’ complete response to the question can be found in the video below.
While she did bring up some good points about the Ravens improving their team overall, Jackson’s response is more so about losing a friend and teammate in the locker room. But for Jackson, he must put all office feelings about the trade aside and prepare for the 2022 campaign with the players currently in his locker room.
Brown opens up on trade to Cardinals
Ravens fans and quarterback Lamar Jackson were surprised by the team trading away young star receiver Marquise Hollywood Brown. However, the trade was not a surprise to brown as he later revealed that he requested a trade from Baltimore.
During an interview with the I am athlete podcast, Brown confirmed that the rumor of him requesting a trade was true. The former Oklahoma Sooner explained that this was not a knee-jerk reaction and was based on his happiness.
“It was just (about) my happiness. I mean, I talked to Lamar about it, you know, after my second year,” said Brown. “And you know then I after my third year, leading up to the end of the season, he wasn’t playing, and I let him know again, like, yeah bro I can’t do it. And you know it’s not really on Lamar. Like I love Lamar it was just, you know, it’s just the system wasn’t for me personally.”