Ravens’ Super Bowl odds stagnant amidst Lamar Jackson trade rumors

The Baltimore Ravens face a major issue this offseason, as quarterback Lamar Jackson is a free agent, and the team has yet to come to terms with him on a long-term deal.

Baltimore could always franchise tag Jackson, but if the two sides never meet on a deal, it feels like divorce is inevitable. Right now, things are starting to trend in that direction.

Despite the report of Jackson and Ravens being far apart in negotiations, the team’s Super Bowl odds have stayed steady at +1800 to +2200, depending on the sportsbook.

Baltimore Ravens’ Super Bowl 58 odds

Baltimore’s Super Bowl hopes will likely rest on Jackson’s shoulders if he remains with the franchise.

The team has been in a position to win the AFC North in each of the last two seasons, but injuries to Jackson completely derailed the Ravens’ seasons.

Tyler Huntley, who is a restricted free agent, is a solid backup quarterback, but Jackson is a one-of-a-kind player, and he’s easily the best dual-threat quarterback in the NFL when healthy.

It’s unlikely that oddsmakers will move the Ravens’ odds based on these reports, as the team could always tag Jackson and have him play the 2023 season on it.

However, it seems like trade rumors will hang over Jackson and the organization until he can agree to a long-term deal.

According to Jamsion Henley and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Jackson has been asking for more guaranteed money than Deshaun Watson, who got a $230 million guaranteed deal from the Cleveland Browns.

"“Jackson — who has vowed not to speak publicly about his contract since the start of the 2022 regular season — wants a fully guaranteed deal in line with the five-year, $230 million contract the Cleveland Browns gave Deshaun Watson in March,” Hensley and Fowler wrote. “The Ravens, meanwhile, are balking at guaranteeing the full amount, according to team sources. Jackson turned down a five-year, $250 million contract in September that included $133 million guaranteed — far less than Watson’s deal, but more than the guaranteed figures awarded to Russell Wilson ($124 million) and Kyler Murray ($103.3 million) last offseason.“According to a source with knowledge of Jackson’s contract negotiations, all of his counteroffers to the Ravens last year were for fully guaranteed contracts that exceeded that of Watson.”It seems Baltimore isn’t willing to guarantee that much money for Jackson, even though he has been a key part of the team’s success."

The former MVP has missed time due to injury in the last two seasons, but Baltimore has been brutal without him, going just 4-8 when Jackson sits in his career, averaging just 17.2 points per game in those contests.

John Harbaugh has been adamant that Jackson will be back with the franchise next season, and oddsmakers seem to be sticking to that belief as well.

—

Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.