Ravens’ general manager Eric DeCosta‘s end-of-season press conference touched on a number of subjects, including the contract extension negotiations with star quarterback Lamar Jackson. While The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec does note that head coach John Harbaugh and DeCosta make it seem as if the deal is imminent, it isn’t guaranteed that Jackson signs an extension before the start of the 2022 NFL season.
“I would say that we’re working at Lamar’s pace. He’s comfortable with where we are right now,” DeCosta stated. He did call negotiations “unusual” with Jackson essentially acting as his own agent. There doesn’t seem to be any rush to get a deal done, though. DeCosta acknowledged that the Ravens are fine with Jackson playing on his fifth-year option, and Jackson seems more focused on the team’s unfinished business after being the AFC’s number one-seed in 2020 but failing to make it to a Super Bowl yet.
Here are a few more notes on the AFC North, starting with another item out of Charm City:
- DeCosta spoke a bit, as well, about the team’s plan to focus on offensive line this offseason. One of the things that they fear they’ll need to address is the free agency of center Bradley Bozeman. Bozeman moved from guard to center after Matt Skura signed with the Dolphins in free agency last year, and they’re afraid Bozeman’s play has priced him out of Maryland. Baltimore saw Ryan Jensen leave to become the highest paid center in football in 2018, so they’re certainly used to replacing centers. They currently have utility lineman Patrick Mekari, who has started games at all three offensive line positions throughout his young Ravens’ career, and who signed an extension late in the season.
- Odell Beckham Jr. and Von Miller became close friends as they rehabbed together in Colorado Springs last offseason, dreaming about eventually playing together. According to George M. Thomas of the Akron Beacon Journal, Beckham made it clear that if they were to make it a reality, it couldn’t be in orange and brown. Miller informed Thomas that Beckham told him straight up, “Don’t come to Cleveland.” In the end, Miller was traded to the Rams and, following a nasty separation from the Browns, Beckham signed to join him in Los Angeles. The pair are now set to play in Super Bowl LVI against a team Beckham knows all too well from his time in the AFC North.
- With longtime quarterback Ben Roethlisberger retiring last week, head coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert represented Pittsburgh at Senior Bowl practices this week. Despite the quarterback group leaving much to be desired through some injury concerns and bad weather, Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus reports that buzz around the event is that the Steelers like Liberty quarterback Malik Willis. Willis has shown the best combination of athleticism and arm strength at practices this week and a source informed Kyed that he’s impressed in interviews, as well. The Steelers currently hold the 20th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and could easily see Willis fall to them, as he’s been seen as a borderline first round pick since declaring. They could also risk potentially missing out on him and trade back later in the first round or early in the second and try to maximize need and value.
I know I’m in the minority, but why not trade away Lamar Jackson and go with Tyler Huntley? Seriously. Outside of that Steelers game, Huntley looks really good.
I’m sure every team in the Ravens division would love to see them dump a former MVP in favor of a QB who couldn’t even equal Andy Dalton’s passer rating.
I mean Lamar’s QBR wasn’t much better. Since his MVP season, he’s gotten worse each year. There are a lot of factors involved but Lamar hasn’t taken the next step forward like Allen and Mahomes
Being your own agent kind of like being your own lawyer.
Not awesome sauce…..
Well, being picked in the first round gives Jackson a nice 5th year option salary…..
Definitely less than what he’s worth. He was the last player taken in the 1st round. He probably should have signed a contract extension before this year but he’s in line for something north of 35 million per year
I’m not a Pitt fan but since I live here, have seen plenty of Kenny Pickett. Why do I get the sense that the team that bypassed Marino, a local boy who wanted to stay here, will do the same with this kid? No, he’s not Marino but the circumstances are eerily similar
The Steelers won’t have a chance to bypass Pickett, he’ll be long gone by 20
Pickett isn’t that good. Reminds me of Ryan Mallet.
AB to the Ravens.
Bye bye Sammy Watkins
You have former MVP Lamar at QB,
JK Dobbins at RB who as a rookie put up 9 TDs
At WR, Hollywood Brown, AB, Bateman, Boykin and Duvernay. At TE, Mark Andrews ofcourse.
O line, If Stanley is fit and healthy they will be good, he’s definitely the key.
For the Ravens it’ll be about bringing in some fresh young legs into that defence.