The Lamar Jackson contract saga continues with recent reports relaying that the Baltimore Ravens may offer the star quarterback more than what Cardinals’ Kyler Murray received.
The good news for the Ravens is that Lamar Jackson doesn’t appear to be holding out for a new contract. Jackson has been fully participating in training camp practices and appears laser-focused on the upcoming season, though he reportedly wants to get his contract situation tied up by Week 1.
Once the regular season starts, Jackson has indicated he will stop negotiations — other than that, very little has come out of Ravens camp regarding Jackson’s ongoing contract talks.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, who has not been Baltimore’s favorite reporter as of late, gave his take on Jackson’s situation and believes that the Ravens are ready to offer Jackson a top-of-the-market extension worth more than Kyler Murray’s recent deal.
"From what I understand the Ravens are willing to give Lamar Jackson more than what Kyler Murray got" ~@RapSheet#PMSLive #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/MF3Ne690LX
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) August 15, 2022
Rapoport said:
"“I would imagine the Kyler Murray deal would be the floor,. From what I understand, the Ravens are willing, as they should, willing to go more than that. So that was $46.1 [million], if I remember correctly, in new money.”"
The Ravens are prepared to give Lamar Jackson a bigger extension than Kyler Murray
Earlier this offseason, Murray signed a five-year, $230.5 million extension with the Arizona Cardinals that includes $160 million guaranteed. Murray’s average per year ($46.1 million) and guaranteed money ($160 million) both rank second among the league’s quarterbacks.
The quarterback who currently has received the most guaranteed money is Deshaun Watson ($230 million), and the quarterback who has the highest average salary is Aaron Rodgers ($50.2 million).
If what Rapoport believes is true, the Ravens would likely offer Jackson a deal between that of Kyler Murray and other top quarterbacks with Murray’s extension being the floor.
Jackson has appeared nonchalant regarding his contract stalemate all throughout the offseason, and from an outsider’s perspective, the 2019 NFL MVP has wisely bided his time and bet on the inflating quarterback market.
This summer has seen a handful of elite quarterbacks get their bags, but Jackson doesn’t seem to be in a rush to ink a new deal and may end up playing out his fifth-year option in 2022, which will pay him roughly $23 million.
Should Jackson’s lack of urgency be concerning? Not for now. The Ravens’ franchise quarterback understandably only has football on his mind in 2022.