For months now, it’s seemed like a foregone conclusion that the Baltimore Ravens and star quarterback Lamar Jackson would eventually reach an agreement on an extension.
Months have gone by and Jackson still remains without a new contract, much to the dismay of everyone involved. Still, it felt likely that eventually, the two sides would agree on a new deal.
That optimism is waning, however. And recent developments indicate that it might be time to officially express concern about the situation. We’ve reached that point.
Jackson’s recent social media activity, including but not limited to liking tweets of him in a Dolphins jersey and shooting down rumors of contracts the Ravens offered, doesn’t help put the mind at ease.
Most importantly, the reported sticking point in extension talks is one that won’t be easily overcome. Jackson is reportedly seeking a fully guaranteed contract. The Ravens seemingly have no intention of offering him that.
One side will have to budge, and right now, it’s hard to imagine either party compromising. Therein lies the biggest issue.
The Ravens and Lamar Jackson don’t appear to be close on extension talks
Jackson had previously set a deadline for extension discussions of Week 1. The former MVP doesn’t plan to negotiate his new contract during the regular season and it seems very likely that this situation will bleed into next offseason.
Now, the Ravens have some negotiating leverage. They have team control over Jackson for at least the next couple of seasons as a result of the franchise tag. That said, the Ravens probably want to avoid Jackson having a cap hit of roughly $45 million in 2023, though.
The franchise tag is a last-ditch option, but it is a very possible outcome if extension talks continue to stall next winter.
From Jackson’s perspective, he believes that he’s deserving of a fully guaranteed contract because of what the Cleveland Browns gave Deshaun Watson. Jackson has accomplished more in his career than Watson so his logic does have some bearing.
However, from the Ravens’ perspective, they’re looking at contracts given out to the likes of Kyler Murray and most recently Russell Wilson and suggesting that the Watson deal was an anomaly.
Just because one NFL franchise was willing to give out a fully guaranteed $230 million contract doesn’t mean others should or will follow suit. If that fully guaranteed contract is the sticking point for Jackson, the Ravens are in big trouble.
I don’t see a scenario where the Ravens offer Jackson such a contract. Jackson is the one who would likely need to budge here.
Not to reiterate tired points at this stage, but Jackson’s lack of an agent only serves to complicate matters. These negotiations can get rather heated, but any disagreements generally occur between the team and agents.
In this case, any perceived disrespect is iterated directly to Jackson himself. It complicates discussions and affords the opportunity for things to get ugly if discussions go south.
The Ravens are in a bind here. If Lamar Jackson isn’t willing to compromise, there’s not much the organization can do.
Lamar is who he is. He’s a man of principle who believes in himself and his own abilities. He doesn’t strike me as someone who’s going to budge on what he believes he’s worth.
That’s what makes this situation so tricky and that’s why it’s officially time to be concerned.