The Lamar Jackson saga continues to be a hot topic this off-season. Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens haven’t come to an agreement on a new contract. Jackson wants a fully guaranteed deal that will pay him top dollar at the quarterback position.
A fully guaranteed contract is significant because it allows a quarterback to get the most money. Last offseason the Cleveland Browns signed Deshaun Watson to a 5-year deal. Watson received $230 million guaranteed. Watson reset the quarterback market and is set to make over $45 million per year.
The NFL is a business and contract negotiations are tricky. Both parties have to agree on a specific number. Additionally, both sides have to keep their value in mind. Players want their money and security. Teams must think about their salary cap and the rest of their roster.
Lamar Jackson’s Perspective
Lamar Jackson is one of the best athletes in the NFL. Jackson had a breakout season in 2018. Jackson won MVP and became the face of Baltimore’s franchise. Jackson wants to be paid accordingly. Jackson has led Baltimore to the playoffs during his career. Jackson has also put his body on the line for the team.
I believe Jackson feels disrespected by Baltimore. Jackson and Baltimore have had ongoing contract talks since the 2022 offseason.
Baltimore Raven’s Perspective
The Baltimore Ravens are viewed as a first-class organization. Baltimore has been successful in the past and has been one of the best teams in the AFC. Despite the success, Baltimore has regressed recently. Lamar Jackson has been fantastic, but his injuries have hurt Baltimore’s chances of winning a Superbowl.
Baltimore has Superbowl aspirations and has come up short. Baltimore is 1-3 in the playoffs with Lamar Jackson. Lamar Jackson suffered a concussion in Baltimore’s playoff game against the Bills in December 2021. Baltimore has seen the Chiefs host consecutive AFC Championship games. Baltimore has also seen the Cincinnati Bengals play in back-to-back AFC Championship games. Cincinnati also played in the Superbowl in 2022. Baltimore hasn’t appeared in an AFC Championship game since 2012.
I think Baltimore is looking around the AFC and questioning themselves. They have a former MVP on their roster, but haven’t gotten over the hump. Paying Lamar Jackson $45 million a year will strain Baltimore’s cap and roster. Baltimore has the option to franchise tag Jackson. The drawback of the franchise tag is that Jackson could be tagged and traded to another team.
Final Note
Lamar Jackson’s contract situation shows the reality of the NFL. Decisions must be made by teams and the quarterback situation is important. We shall see what happens with this situation.
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