Did the Carolina Panthers prematurely trade themselves out of contention for Lamar Jackson?

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Breaking news out of Baltimore: Lamar Jackson has reportedly requested a trade from the Ravens. While the news isn't entirely unexpected, given that the Ravens placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Jackson, allowing him to potentially negotiate a new deal with other teams, it still comes as a surprise to many fans.

The Ravens have been vocal about their desire to keep Jackson in Baltimore for the long term, but with the non-exclusive franchise tag in place, there was always a chance that another team would swoop in with a better offer. And now, it appears that Jackson is ready to explore his options, and it may be to the point that the Ravens are ready to get rid of an MVP size headache.

One team that many fans are speculating about is the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers traded up to the #1 overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft, presumably to select a quarterback. But with Jackson potentially on the market, did the Panthers make a mistake by committing to another quarterback before seeing what the market had to offer?

It's an interesting question and one that is sure to be debated in the coming days and weeks. For now, though, all eyes are on Jackson and where he might end up next. The Ravens can match any offer he receives, or they could let him go and receive two first-round picks as compensation.

Regardless of what happens, this is shaping up to be one of the most interesting NFL offseasons in recent memory, and fans will be eagerly watching to see how it all plays out.