Jackson gives Baltimore option at quarterback
When Baltimore Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome finally got done dealing in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday, he walked away with Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Joe Flacco is Baltimore’s quarterback for now, but Jackson is sure to get some consideration in the future after Newsome jumped back into the first round to snag the man who threw a combined 57 touchdown passes the past two years.
Jackson was secured with the final pick of the first round in a trade with the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
“It was masterful the way it happened in the draft room,” beamed Newsome, who is heading the Ravens draft for the last time.
Newsome and coach John Harbaugh made it clear that Flacco remains the No. 1 quarterback. But they simply couldn’t pass up the chance to take Jackson, who ran for 50 TDs and threw for 69 more during his spectacular three-run with the Cardinals.
Jackson hoped to go earlier, but was content to have the Ravens come calling.
“There is a chip on my shoulder. Both shoulders,” he said. “I’m not mad. It’s just motivation.”
Lots of brothers have made it to the NFL. Some have played on the same team or been selected in the same draft.
The Edmunds siblings made history as the first brothers selected in the same opening round. Linebacker Tremaine went 16th to Buffalo. Then older brother, safety Terrell, also of Virginia Tech, was chosen 28th by Pittsburgh.
Older brother Trey was a rookie running back with the Saints last year.
“Man, it was great,” Tremaine says. “Definitely to see my other brother get drafted, it was a big-time relief for my whole family. I know everybody’s excited and I’m excited. It’s a long time coming, but we can finally say that we made it.”
Tremaine is only 19 and will be one of the youngest players in the league. Terrell is 21.
“I’ve always been a young guy, whatever team that I was on,” Tremaine said. “I’m a mature guy, so I just say, just listened to my dad, my brother because they’ve been through the process, try to get things from them and continue to do the things I was doing and be the best player that I can be.”
Tremaine and Terrell’s dad is Ferrell Edmunds, who played seven NFL seasons at tight end.
Tight end Antonio Gates will not return for a 16th season with the Los Angeles Chargers, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press. Gates has spent his entire career with the Chargers, who signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He went on to become the top receiver in franchise history, catching 927 passes for 11,508 yards and 114 touchdowns — the NFL scoring record for a tight end.