3 early keys to Ravens’ success in 2022

1. Pay Lamar Jackson

Entering the fifth year of his rookie contract, Lamar Jackson appears in no great hurry to get a deal done, and John Harbaugh and others have since attested that Jackson is solely focused on getting healthy for 2022.

Still, one can’t deny that not extending Jackson’s contract looks bad from an optics standpoint, and the franchise would breathe a huge sigh of relief if Jackson cemented his future sooner rather than later.

As far as the contract talks go, everything seems to be on Jackson’s timeline. Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti recently spoke out about the situation saying that they would “pay Lamar Jackson when he was ready.”

If the two sides don’t come to an agreement by the start of the season, Baltimore may be forced to slap a franchise tag on him, which is less than ideal. In terms of long-term stability and overall confidence and morale, the team should try as hard as possible to convince Jackson to put pen to paper.

Given how much the quarterback landscape has changed since 2021, Jackson will likely command a deal of at least $40 million a year, equivalent to the contracts of Josh Allen, Dak Prescott, and several other top-tier signal-callers.

Many have long clamored for Jackson to get his due, as the 2019 MVP has transformed the Ravens’ offense and firmly established himself as the face of the franchise.

If the organization were to put complete faith in Jackson and invest in its quarterback of the future — well, we can think of no better way to start a new season.

Fingers crossed, Jackson gets the business out of the way and secures his starting spot on the team for many years to come. It’s in the best interest of everyone in the purple and black.