Overview of The Athletic Football Show
This episode is a wide-ranging trade deadline preview with Charles Robinson, focused on the NFL’s most intriguing potential movers and the bigger organizational dynamics behind them. The conversation spends the most time on Lamar Jackson’s future in Baltimore, including why his contract situation may eventually force the Ravens into uncomfortable choices, and then moves into the broader trade market: Jonathan Taylor, the receiver market, and a handful of teams that could be buyers or sellers over the next week.
Lamar Jackson and the Ravens
Why the situation is so unusual
- Lamar’s contract structure is a problem Baltimore has to solve:
- He has an enormous future cap hit.
- The Ravens need either a restructure/extension or, in an extreme scenario, a trade.
- Because Lamar has no agent and rarely gives public signals, there’s very little visibility into what he actually wants.
- The hosts and Charles stress that Lamar has repeatedly used every leverage point in his career:
- He insisted on playing quarterback in college and the NFL.
- He pushed through previous contract negotiations on his own terms.
- If he wants out, Baltimore may have to act before it risks losing him for minimal compensation later.
Why Baltimore may be forced to trade him
- If the Ravens think there’s a real chance Lamar will leave in free agency after 2027, the worst-case outcome would be letting him walk for a late compensatory pick.
- That makes a trade feel like a possible “save the asset” move, even if the team would prefer to keep him.
- The group repeatedly emphasizes that convincing Lamar to stay is Baltimore’s top priority.
What the Brissett move signals
- Baltimore acquiring Jacoby Brissett suggests they’re trying to stay functional at quarterback and keep the season on the rails.
- The move does not look like a teardown.
- It reads more like:
- “Keep competing,”
- “Avoid chaos,”
- and “Preserve the option of being competitive if Lamar returns.”
Jonathan Taylor Trade Market
Why Taylor is one of the top names to watch
- Charles says Taylor has a strong market and could realistically be moved.
- He’s seen as a true impact player:
- a centerpiece back,
- still capable of carrying an offense,
- and valuable beyond just the rest of this season.
Teams mentioned as fits
- Vikings: mentioned as a logical fit, though there’s tension between short-term help and long-term roster building.
- Broncos: Sean Payton would likely love a player like Taylor.
- Seahawks: brought up as another realistic suitor.
- Packers: discussed as a possible fit depending on the Josh Jacobs situation.
- Giants: floated as an additional team that could be interested.
The caution for teams like Minnesota and New York
- The hosts argue that a team with a shaky quarterback future should be careful about spending premium draft capital on a running back.
- If you still need a long-term QB answer, trading future flexibility for Taylor may not be the best sustainable move.
- The central question is whether a move like this actually changes the team’s ceiling enough to justify the cost.
Receiver Market and Other Names to Watch
Josh Downs
- Charles identifies Josh Downs as a player generating notable interest.
- The Chiefs are the team most strongly tied to him.
- Why he fits Kansas City:
- He’s a precise route runner.
- He can create separation without being a pure speed merchant.
- He would complement the rest of the Chiefs’ receiver room well.
Other receiver-needy teams
- Steelers
- 49ers
- Patriots are also mentioned as a lurking possibility.
Brian Thomas Jr.
- The Jaguars were discussed as a team that could theoretically trade him, but Charles doesn’t think they’re eager to do so.
- His view:
- Jacksonville seems more likely to buy than sell.
- Brian Thomas Jr. still has value to the current roster.
- A contending team shouldn’t give up a premium piece unless the return is overwhelming.
Khalil Mack / Buda Baker
- Khalil Mack is viewed as a likely trade candidate if the Chargers decide to move him, but there’s concern about whether LA would actually do it.
- Buda Baker is a sensible target for teams needing secondary help, with the Bills and Jaguars mentioned specifically.
Team-by-Team Trade Deadline Read
Ravens
- Probably not selling major pieces unless the Lamar situation turns sharply.
- Brissett suggests stability rather than a fire sale.
Chargers
- The organization seems hesitant to make moves that signal surrender.
- There’s also uncertainty around Justin Herbert’s current state and the team’s internal belief in what’s happening.
Vikings
- A Jonathan Taylor trade would reflect a “win now” push, but the hosts question whether that fits their broader timeline.
- The key issue is whether Kevin O’Connell’s urgency is aligned with the front office’s sustainable roster-building philosophy.
NFC South teams
- Charles thinks every NFC South team is in a spot where they can justify adding talent because the division is so open.
Eagles
- They may not be dead yet, and the switch to Joe Milton is framed as a way to spark something.
- Teams are calling about their offensive line depth.
Lions
- Detroit is expected to explore edge-rush help.
- The defense may need reinforcements if the Lions want to seriously contend in the NFC.
Main Takeaways
- Lamar Jackson’s future is the defining storyline: the Ravens may eventually be forced to decide between extending him or trading him.
- Jonathan Taylor is the biggest “buy” name likely to move, with multiple teams fitting the profile.
- Josh Downs stands out as a receiver market name, especially for the Chiefs.
- Several teams are operating with very different timelines:
- some are trying to maximize a current window,
- others are trying not to mortgage the future for a short-term fix.
- The trade deadline could get interesting because there are a lot of teams that are either:
- surprisingly competitive,
- or one injury away from changing direction.
Notable Thought from the Episode
- The hosts repeatedly emphasize that NFL front offices are usually discussed only through transactions, not through decision-making process.
- Charles’s new project, NFL Blue Book, is framed as an attempt to cover the league’s front offices more like an ecosystem than a transaction log.