There has been a ton of chatter about what the Ravens should offer to quarterback Lamar Jackson in a potential contract extension and about what Jackson truly deserves. Thanks to an article published last week by Jason La Canfora of The Washington Post, we have been given a bit of a look at what Baltimore did offer its star quarterback and what he’s rejected so far. 
In the article, La Canfora reiterates a point of conversation that has become quite common in the past few weeks: the impasse between team executives and Jackson focuses on guaranteed money, an issue punctuated by the Browns’ unprecedented, fully guaranteed contract extension for quarterback Deshaun Watson.
La Canfora reports that, over a year before the Bills extended quarterback Josh Allen at the price tag of around $43MM per year, Baltimore offered Jackson a deal worth $35MM per year. The two sides were unable to come to an agreement, though, and the contract saga continued on into this past offseason.
Jackson and the Ravens proceeded with negotiations prior to the start of the season, culminating in a significantly increased offer totaling $290MM over six years. The average annual value of $48.33MM would have been good for third in the league behind only Russell Wilson of the Broncos and Aaron Rodgers of the Packers. But, consistent with the point of conversation mentioned above, the two parties were still unable to agree to a new deal due to their difference in views on guaranteed money. The Ravens offered guaranteed money in the range of $160-180MM. It’s a significant offer and commitment, but Jackson has his heart set on the full guarantees that Watson received.
Here are a few other sources of information on the situation that offer unique views to the situation, starting with an argument against the precedent set in Cleveland:
- Former Saints head coach Sean Payton participated in an interview with Lindsay Rhodes of the NFL Rhodes Show podcast this week. When asked to comment on the situation, Payton claimed he understood Jackson’s point of view. When compared to Watson, Jackson has more than proven that he deserves a similar, if not a better, deal to Watson’s. Payton argued, though, that the market is not going to be set by the Browns, a franchise who has made the playoffs once in the past 20 years, calling Watson’s contract a deal “no other organization in the league would’ve done.” This point has been underlined by recent deals that did not follow that precedent. Both Wilson and Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray signed new long-term deals recently that were nowhere close to approaching the guaranteed money of the Watson-deal. While Jackson is pointing to Watson’s contract, the Ravens are pointing at Wilson and Murray’s as proof that Watson’s deal is an aberration.
- Jeff Howe of The Athletic recently discussed the situation with multiple NFL executives on the condition of anonymity. While much has been made about Jackson conducting negotiations without professional representation, the rival executives produced an interesting point about Jackson’s lack of an agent. Not taking any credit away from Jackson’s ability to conduct himself in a contract negotiation, one of the executives pointed out that having an agent can serve as a buffer, removing any “personal element from business dealings.” A second general manager agreed, saying, “The club has arguments for why you’re maybe not worth as much as you think, or the club is trying to get the best deal for themselves and the player is trying to get the best deal for himself. And you come to the table with reasons why you came to your position.” Having to tell a player to his face why you think he’s not worth as much as he thinks he is can get pretty personal. So far, all signs have pointed to negotiations being completely amicable, but utilizing an agent could avoid potentially awkward situations.
- Many expect Jackson to end up playing next season on the team’s franchise tag. In a Q&A with fans this week, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer brought up an interesting possibility that the Ravens could pursue. Breer first points out that, as of right now and subject to change, the exclusive franchise tag projects to $45.45MM. If the situation stalls again, forcing a second consecutive exclusive tag, the amount would rise by 20% to approximately $54.54MM. A third-consecutive exclusive tag would require a 50% increase, resulting in an unheard of salary of $81.81MM, which would be nearly impossible to facilitate. All of these options are less than ideal, as well, because they will all fully count against the team’s salary cap space for each season. Breer proposes that a potential solution could be the use of a nonexclusive tag. Again, subject to change, the nonexclusive tag projects at $29.7MM, a nearly $16MM difference. The risk is that anyone in the league would then have a chance to sign Jackson. Baltimore would retain matching rights, though, meaning that Baltimore can let the rest of the league set Jackson’s market and simply match it. It’s obviously possible that a team submits an offer that Baltimore couldn’t possibly match, but Breer believes that losing Jackson would likely amount in at least two first-round picks coming back. That’s clearly not what the Ravens want, but taking that risk would give them breathing room in cap space, take the pressure off their own shoulders, and would test how badly Jackson wants to remain a Raven.
Over 400 total yards today and 4 touchdowns. Lamar Jackson has proven he is in the upper tier of nfl qbs. That being said qb money is getting out of control. I think we can all agree Dak isn’t worth 40 million a year. Dak has proven he’s one dimensional and his throwing is pretty iffy. Lamar on the other hand has proven he is as capable as an rb1 and a top 10 qb. Pay him Baltimore before you regret it and lose him
Yes jackson has won so many more division championships Super Bowls and playoff games than Dak. It’s proven if you don’t win a Super Bowl under rookie contract you won’t with selfish qb taking all the cap money . Thank goodness for Tom Brady a team player
Dan Marino was garbage too because he never won a super bowl right? Try comparing Dak and Lamar’s stats before commenting
Dan Marino could actually pass.
No politics should be blocked by everyone. He’s really annoying
I am sorry the actual truth is annoying to you.
You know who he really is?
Brownsbacker9, xaibal, strike four, or sillivan would be my guess. I’d guess brownsbacker9 if I had to. He’s already muted though so it’s okay
I can reply to you, so if I were one of those people I wouldn’t be able to do so or read your replies. I’m not any of those people. I mean, I only hate the Browns with a passion and smash on that franchise every chance I get, but other than that…yeah, I must be Brownsbacker….what an idiot.
He has no clue.
I went back and looked at old Deshaun Watson articles and No Politics was the guy defending him.
Then you weren’t looking with working eyes.
No Politics is the fake. No politics is me.
They were the same spelling. I really don’t care that you’re brownsbacker. You add an element. You’re like a pit, you sink your teeth into a thread like Watson and you run with it.
No they weren’t. I…have NEVER defended Deshaun Watson and I think he should be never allowed to play football again and the Browns should be penalized mightily for how they structured his contract because they knew he would be suspended.
Obviously you do care about it because you brought it up, but you got the wrong guy.
It doesn’t bother me but I know you are being accused by a lot people on here. Have a good day whoever you are
By a lot of stupid people, yeah. Do you want to be a stupid person, too?
Well,if you aren’t him, you are as despised as he was.
I didn’t come here to make friends and get daily affirmations. What a bunch of random idiots think of me is irrelevant.
Tom Brady didn’t take a team discount until he had over $150 million in career earnings. While he did take team friendly deals when he was passed his prime, he definitely was getting his bag early on. Let’s not forget his market setting deal in 2010, which at the time was the highest value and most guaranteed in history…yea, team player
And the team sill lost because he fumbled the ball and turned it over AGAIN, and he failed to run for a first down on 4th down that set up another score.
As for your other argument further down, Lamar is one of the worst QBs in the game of football at delivering a ball on target. I don’t care what his comp% is, because they tailor the offense for his erratic throwing by not asking him to try certain passes. Some of his completions are due to amazing efforts by his receivers like today when he had a wide open Duvernay streaking over the middle and instead of hitting him in stride, Duvernary had to stop his route, leap in the air, and reach behind himself to get the ball.
Let some other team pay him ridiculous money that he’s not worth.
If I was Jackson I would point out why do I care what the 2 shortest QBs in the NFL are getting paid? He certainly deserves more then Wilson or Murray
When was the last time a top 5 paid QB won a Super Bowl? I’m all for getting your money while you can but at the money he and other QBs are going for now, it’s tough to see how they field a top flight team around him.
I agree but I really don’t think most of these players care about winning a Super Bowl as long as they get their bag of cash. It’s turning into a me league like the NBA. They don’t really care about the fans. It’s just a paycheck to most NFL players. And I can’t blame them for it.
Mahomes
Bang!
Mahomes won the Superbowl before he signed his massive contract.
He hasn’t won a Superbowl since then.
It happens quite frequently. Just so happens that Brady has won 4 of the last 8 Super Bowls and was only top 5 in salary for one of them. Stafford was the top pad qb in 2020, but thanks to a restructure in his trade to the rams he was 9th overall but within 5 million of the top 5. Peyton manning in 2015 and Brady in 2020 are your last two qbs with top 5 money to win
Maybe, Lamar Jackson should see what is out there. Who else is going to offer a boatload of cash, jewels, and gold bars
They should pay him the same way the Patriots paid Brady all those years, i.e., under the table.
Not a Raven’s fan, but I’m assuming this mostly boils down to 2 red flags for BAL to commit that much guaranteed cheddar:
1. Injury risk for running QBs. See RGIII. Or heck Lance from yesterday. Designed runs and a willingness to take off lead to taking more bug hits — plain and simple. I’d be hesitant to fully guarantee a 4+ yr, $50M contract to a running QB too.
2. If you phase out a large portion of his running to reduce risk, can he be effective enough as a passer?
Lamar Jackson is instant offense. Anyone that tries to downplay that is a hater of some variety. Good DC’s can force #2 and limit the damage and encourage mistakes, but he’s still a gamebreaker that can turn the tide of a game on any single given play.
Those guys deserve to get paid. And he will. If he doesn’t get a 6 year, $300M fully guaranteed deal though that doesn’t mean he sucks. It just means the concerns on the 2 points above are large enough to not warrant it.
He is not an effective passer. He needs the run game as it is to set up the only passes he can make. He is a wildly erratic passer as evidenced by him being one of the worst QBs in the league at delivering a ball on target to a receiver.
If you want to laud his instant offense, then you must include his instant turnover as well, which led to him losing to Miami. He is a turnover machine.
Outside of last year he hasn’t been a turnover machine. He only has one turnover through two games this season.
Incorrect, he has 3. 1 interception, 1 fumble, and 1 failed 4th down run which was a turnover on downs. Turnovers aren’t just interceptions thrown. He is an absolutely turnover machine and a wildly inaccurate passer.
A fumble isn’t a turnover unless it’s a fumble lost, which his wasn’t. Also, a turnover on downs goes to the team not an individual player. It is inaccurate to refer to that as his turnover.
He fumbled it and didn’t recover it. He was the guy who ran it on 4th down and he failed. It is his “L.” If you want to give him credit for wins, which is the ultimate team stat, then he can take the L’s too.
I’m not really lauding anything, I’m stating facts. Your point on turnovers is also fair, though less running may reduce some fumbles. Those could easily be replaced or exceeded by strip sacks though.
I’m not at all suggesting the Ravens cave. I personally would not fully guarantee his deal for $50M/yr for more than 2-3 years. If that is indeed the sticking point then I’d plan to franchise him 2 years and shop him via Tag n Trade both years. If he refuses to play on the tag, I trade him for at least a 1st and move on. If he kills my leverage and I can’t get a 1st, I let him sit like Bell did.
As a Steelers fan though? Well, as a Steelers fan I hope he gets $500 over 10, fully guaranteed.
I hope some other team pays him that much, but I don’t really care in the end. I have disowned all of the NFL, not just any one team. I just want to see all these big contracts blow up in teams’ faces and have it hamstring the league and make it all die.
It’s been pointed out Watson only got that contract because the browns had to overpay to get him. Most likely that’ll be the high mark for qbs for at least a few years. Lamar just take your 45 mil a year and run with it buddy