With Week 1 quickly approaching, it is becoming less and less likely that an extension becomes finalized between the Ravens and quarterback Lamar Jackson before the latter’s self-imposed negotiating deadline. Recent remarks he made on social media hint at the type of contract the team has – or, more to the point, has not – offered him so far. 
Responding to a Twitter conversation stating that the Ravens had offered Jackson a fully guaranteed extension worth $250MM, the 25-year-old replied, “no they didn’t” (Twitter link). Such a deal would be in line with the unprecedented contract given to Deshaun Watson by the Browns, though that pact had a total value of $230MM.
Much has been made about Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti‘s comments made in the wake of that deal and the effect it was likely to have on future QB extensions. Indeed, it was reported last month that Jackson was seeking a second contract which was also guaranteed in full and, given his track record, higher in maximum value than Cleveland’s new signal-caller.
Two mega-deals have been signed at the position since the Browns’ acquisition of Watson: Kyler Murray‘s extension with the Cardinals (averaging $46.1MM per year) and, yesterday, the contract Russell Wilson signed which will keep him in Denver, presumably, for the remainder of his career ($49MM). Those extensions each include substantial guarantees, though they fall well short of the structure Watson’s deal is comprised of. As a result, the Ravens will no doubt point to the latter accord as the exception, rather than the rule, in the new QB market.
Baltimore was willing to match the annual value of Buffalo’s Josh Allen extension last offseason, which would have left Jackson on the books at an annual average of $43MM. A franchise tag would carry a similar cost if the team elects to use it next year, though doing so would have far different cap implications than an extension of the same value. How far the team is willing to go on the matter of guarantees – and the manner in which Jackson responds to those efforts – will be central to how this relationship proceeds.
Should have taken the $. He’s betting on himself and he’s not a top 10 QB, maybe not even a top 20.
If you really think Lamar Jackson might not even be a top 20 QB when the 32 current starters include all these guys:
Tua, Wilson, Mac Jones, Daniel Jones, Hurts, Wentz, Trubisky, Geno, Mills, Tannehill, Fields, Goff, Cousins, Lance, Winston, Mayfield, Mariota,
That’s just silly.
How did you put wilson with those guys? Yhe Wilson who is about to have 40000 passing yards has a 3+to 1 td to int ratio a super bowl victory and a 102 qb rating. Thats just silly bro!
Wrong Wilson, bro.
Fair. I’d put him on even with Baker and Mac Jones has better potential. Either way he’s middle of the pack and he’s sure not better than Allen, Mahomes, Brady, Rodgers, Burrow, Herbert, Russell, Dak, Stafford,Kyler, Matty Ice
Putting Matt Ryan ahead of Lamar is the most hilariously stupid take I’ve read all week. Thanks for the laugh!
Name 20 QBs better. Because you can’t. I’ve at least seen the arguments for who is better and really it’s who is “better”. The better QBs might have better numbers but have worse records. So who is a better if they have inflated numbers and worse records?
There aren’t 15 QBs better than Lamar and saying Lamar isn’t top 10 is pretty subjective.
He’s not the 15th best passer in the league, or top 10. That’s objective.
Top 10 athlete at the position, he’s probably #1 there. Better record? Well, that depends if you want to put all the success or failure of a team on the QB. You can’t have your cake and eat it too. You can’t say that Lamar is the sole reason they win during the regular season, and then cherry pick reasons why he’s not the sole reason for them failing in the playoffs every year.
People on here love to knock Jackson as an injury risk and style of QB who can’t win or age well (even though plenty of running QBs have played well into their 30s and grown as passers), but the Ravens had far and away the worst injury luck of any team in football last year, and especially in a division with Trubisky and 11 games of Brissett, he’s got a very good chance of leading them to the playoffs this year. What are they gonna do, hit reset on the QB they built their whole playoff offense around and try to find a better QB either on the open market or with a late draft pick?
Guaranteeing $250 million would be crazy for Baltimore based on Lamar’s skill set. He may not be injury prone, but it will be hard to keep him healthy and that guaranteed cap hit would cripple the team if he were to miss extended amounts of play in the future.
Given the post-Watson contracts so far, I highly doubt $250 million guaranteed is in anyone’s expectations.
I don’t really understand these contracts. In a salary cap situation, no single player is worth that figure of salary. Hell, even without a cap!!!
Just because the Browns signed Watson to a stupid contract doesn’t mean any other QB should expect it.
If I was stupid enough to pay $500 for a load of bread, does that mean every one else in the country should?
C’mon Man!!!
Gonna go out on a limb and say a loaf of bread isn’t comparable to the most valuable position in all of team sports, in a sport that prints money, at a position where a team sent actual draft picks to pay Carson Wentz $28 million. If there were no salary cap, there would be a couple of QBs making $75 million.
Baltimore has designed its offense around this unique talent. I wonder what his market would be as a free agent. He is dynamic in what he does but wow, the transition another team would need to make with him at the helm would be enormous and fun to watch.
Yeah, it definitely makes the most sense for everyone for him to stay in Baltimore, but it’s a fun thought experiment to imagine what a move would even look like. Like, what if Detroit followed up this all-out approach to building the trenches with Lamar throwing to Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown? Not saying it would be the ideal fit, but it’s a fun thought.
Gotta cut down on the carbs bro!
With the amount of picks & players being sent for star QB’s, might as well entertain offers next offseason.
That is precisely what they should do. Give him your take it or leave it offer, which IMHO they shouldn’t even entertain a ridiculous offer of any kind, tag him and then put him on the trade market. Let the next team give up picks and then break the bank on a new deal for him. The Ravens should not spend that money on this QB.
I’m thinking the Ravens and Lamar are on good terms. The Ravens truly believe he is their best chance at winning a SB. And he wants to be here. I see him with Baltimore for the long haul but always on one year deals and/or yearly extensions. Why? Everything seems odd here, unique in comparison to the other top QB recent deals. Is there something that we don’t know about? And the Ravens and Lamar do not want the league to know about? Possibly a chronic injury he picked up over the last couple of seasons that’s only gonna get worse thus the one year deal strategy based on this health issue. If he does go on the DL, the Ravens have confidence in Huntley to keep them competitive while Lamar is out?
If the Ravens truly thought this, he’d be signed already. They are playing hardball for a reason.
He needs an agent.
Roquan Smith is available…lol.
He is an entertaining player who likely generates a lot of fan interest in the Baltimore area, but he is never going to win you a Super Bowl. Thus the question that should be asked is whether a good Q-rating is worth top shelf money.
His 2019 MVP season is tied for the 2nd-best statistical season in the history of the league. I think the altitude is affecting your cognitive abilities if you think he can’t win a Super Bowl.
If the Ravens fall behind for any reason he doesn’t have the skill set to bring them back. He has six fourth quarter comebacks in his career, which is mediocre in today’s world.