Lamar Jackson is back. After attending just one OTA practice, the two-time MVP showed up when needed, arriving for the mandatory minicamp on Tuesday. After ongoing buzz around Jackson's lack of attendance over the last few weeks, his attendance shut those talks down.
Jackson and the Ravens’ front office have been going through contract negotiations. His attendance was a breath of fresh air, especially when looking at how contracts are playing out with a heated division rival in Cincinnati.
The Cincinnati Bengals have been going through contract turmoil in recent months. Shemar Stewart has yet to ink his rookie deal, and there is no progress toward an agreement. For 2024 sack leader Trey Hendrickson, he also has had disagreements with the front office, and while the two parties resumed contract talks, he was a no-show at mandatory minicamp.
Lamar Jackson’s relationship with the front office is one the Bengals wish they had
There was never any worry in Baltimore that Jackson would not show up for mandatory minicamp. He pulled the same stunt last year, forfeiting $750,000 in 2024 just as he did this offseason. Baltimore has also gotten ahead of the curve with contract talks. While he does not become a free agent until 2028, the two sides know he is worth a richer deal. Cincinnati, on the other hand, is having a rough go of it.
The resumption of negotiations with Hendrickson is slightly encouraging, but the two sides are incredibly far apart on the deal. The team has shown negligence in prioritizing defensive players, as he is not their only concern this offseason.
Stewart’s contract situation has been otherworldly bad, and his case is one of the rarer ones ever seen. Rookie contracts tend to be agreed upon quickly. Some may take time to negotiate for various reasons, but the contracts eventually get done.
Stewart, however, has been firm in his stance on keeping his name off the dotted line. The disagreement is because of a new clause the Bengals are introducing that could void future guarantees under certain circumstances.
For a team that desperately needs talent on defense, the ongoing debacle with both pass rushers seems like a step backward. As neither of the two talented players has shown up for camp, the abysmal Bengals’ defense could reach historically bad marks in 2025.
While the Ravens take a victory lap after seeing the progress made with Jackson and his commitment to the team in 2025, the Bengals are sputtering out of control. While they are showing some progress in finding their footing, there is a long road ahead.