For the second day in a row, there has been an important development with respect to Lamar Jackson‘s extension efforts. ESPN’s Jamison Hensley reports that the Ravens quarterback won’t negotiate a new contract once the regular season begins. 
[RELATED: Jackson Seeking Fully Guaranteed Deal?]
When asked about a firm deadline approaching in the form of Week 1, Jackson said, “We’re coming up to it. It’s coming up. The season’s coming up. We’re going to be good for the season.”
The 25-year-old also repeated his desire to finalize a new contract in time for the season, which is in line with remarks he made in the build-up to training camp last month. Jackson is currently set to play on the fifth-year option this season, which will pay him just over $23MM.
One (or two) subsequent seasons played on the franchise tag remains an option if a deal can’t be finalized by next July, a path which this situation seemed to be headed towards for much of the offseason. With negotiations – which at all times have been conducted personally between Jackson and Ravens GM Eric DeCosta – potentially becoming more urgent, the lack of leverage the former has relative to Deshaun Watson as his trade market led to a fully guaranteed pact contrasts with the significant toll a franchise tag would take on the Ravens’ 2023 cap situation.
“I’m very confident that it will get done when it gets done,” head coach John Harbaugh said. “You can’t really rush it. I don’t think either side wants to rush anything.”
With just under one month remaining until the regular season, there is still time for both sides to finalize a deal which would all-but assuredly place Jackson at or near the top of the QB market. In the absence of an extension coming together in the immediate future, though, this situation will be set to drag on for several more months.
“I’m very confident that it will get done when it gets done.” That’s like when someone says “it was in the last place I looked?” Well why the eff would you keep looking after you found it?!
Dude needs to fire his agent. Probably the worst agent in the NFL. But he is the best agent playing QB in the NFL.
This is the issue. He has to play this year. He has to play the best he has ever played. Will he get 5/50each? Are you willing to pay that. If so you won’t have to worry. You’ll be too bidder and get his best production year this year. Pay him now and he might not ever play well again. He has no leverage. At the end of the day. Paying someone 50mil a season is a sure fire way of never seeing a super bowl. He couldn’t do it yet. 50 mil is self reliant sb. He needs a cast to be effective. A running dual threat QB is a huge liability. Full guarantees are for pocket QBs with a good line. Lol. I don’t see paying him being the answer. He’s forcing a Watson. But he moved himself into a position of prove it year. The only power he has is not signing with you next year over bitterness. If he can’t get it done in a make me richest prove it year. He isn’t worth locking up.
If he gets you to a super bowl. Pay him. You may never go again but now your sakes pay his salary. Pray for cap space increases. The best move is to do nothing. He’s not highly marketable and he’s only good because of his intensity inside the hash. It didn’t work with cap room. It’s not going to work with 50mil sucked up. I don’t see 50 mil sustainable. No one is worth never going to the super bowl.
Jackson is just 25, has an MVP trophy and the alternative is someone called Tyler Huntley. That sounds like pretty good leverage to me.
The leverage is to suck this year and draft his replacement.
The qb market will calm down if Watson sucks.
Everything says wait.
If the Ravens really wanted him, the deal would be done. He’s not worth all that. He’s not a good QB. The experiment failed. Let some other team pay him big bucks and then watch as he blows out a knee and is never able to learn how to be a QB.
If you want to win the Super Bowl, he’s not your guy. But if you want to generate tons of fan interest to sell jerseys/merchandise/tickets he’s the answer. Face it, some team owners only care about making money – and making Jackson the highest paid player perhaps isn’t compatible with that.
Hang onto him and draft someone else. You know he’s not the answer.
*Sign him to a long term deal topping all QB’s – the entire NFL fanbase
“Sign him to a long term deal topping all QB’s”
-Jackson’s Mom
I don’t really see it.
Great athlete, perhaps the most electrifying one on the field with the ball in his hands. But that’s the issue. The QB is not the guy that is supposed to get crushed like your RB. He’s supposed to be getting it into the hands of other talented players.
Lamar had one great season. Then the league adjusted. It’s been down hill since.
“But he’s whatever and whatever in the regular season!”
So? What’s his playoff record?
He doesn’t want to be in Baltimore & the Ravens should accept that. The front office and owner have offered to discuss a new deal all offseason. And now he wants a $200m+ deal done in 2-3 weeks? Let him play this year and look for a QB next offseason.
They should trade for Jimmy G
Once he gets healthy it’s his job. Trey lance blows
I don’t think the Ravens are into him that much, either. They built an entire offense around him only to see every WR not want to come here and the one they hit on with the 1st pick want out.
They drafted no other WR’s this year and haven’t gone out and gotten him any help there. They invested in two more TE’s, one of them most likely going to miss a good chunk of the season with a re-injured sports hernia.
Does this seem like they are going all in on him?
Let him play for the contract this year and let someone else pay it, use your time evaluating the draft class and other options. This gives you a bit of time while he takes all this risks trying to prove something.
I hear it’s a loaded draft class.
We’ll see if Lamar plays well and not get injured again.
So if he plays well and the team does well, you’ll never draft a top QB
Just pay the man. Precious NFL MVP. 5/50 guaranteed is a great deal. SIGN HIM
For another team. Not for the Ravens if they want to win games that matter.
Fans seem to either love or hate Lamar’s game.
Me? I love it. And I think he gets the Ravens a SB win at some point in his career. And when it comes right down to it, that’s what the Ravens play for every year. Here’s hoping we get there this year regardless of whether it’s Lamar or Huntley or someone else at the helm. Let’s go!