Despite growing frustration in Baltimore surrounding Lamar Jackson‘s PCL injury, the Ravens are still interested in a long-term pact with their franchise quarterback. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the organization’s stance on their quarterback hasn’t changed, and whenever the season ends, the front office plans to “begin negotiating with Jackson with hopes of striking a long-term deal.”
[RELATED: Lamar Jackson To Miss Wild-Card Game]
A source told Rapoport that the Ravens are “still all in” on Jackson, even “despite the disappointment with Jackson not being able to play in the first round.” While the team made significant progress on negotiations before the 2022 season, Jackson ended up playing out this season on his $23MM fifth-year option. The former MVP has reportedly been eyeing a Deshaun Watson-like deal.
Sources told Rapoport that the franchise tag is still the most likely scenario. However, it’s uncertain whether the organization would hit Jackson with the standard franchise tag (allowing him to negotiate with other teams while promising compensation if he leaves) or the exclusive tag (which provides exclusive negotiations but with a higher tag price).
Jackson hasn’t seen the field since early December while he’s continued to recover from a PCL injury. Rapoport observes that “Jackson would be at minimal risk of reinjury if he played” tomorrow against the Bengals, although the QB clarified this week that he’s not playing because he’s still not at 100-percent health. Last year, Jackson missed the Ravens’ lone playoff game while dealing with a bone bruise in his ankle. We could end up seeing a similar scenario this year, leading to some natural frustrations within the organization.
Yesterday, Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com wrote that the “powers-that-be” are “becoming frustrated to the point of exasperated with Jackson’s inability (or unwillingness) to play.” Veteran Sammy Watkins also had some strong words about his quarterback, saying that “everybody is pretty much banged up” at this point of the season. The wide receiver also seemed to question how Jackson’s impending free agency has played into his absence.
“I think the world is ready to see Lamar back on the field, doing what he do best, and get all the stipulations and contract stuff behind him,” Watkins said (via Florio). “I pray somebody talks to him like, ‘Man, just sign the deal.’ You know what I mean? And he get out there and hopefully, if . . . he’s healthy, he can just come play this Sunday. We all know that’s up to Lamar and whatever goes on. Hopefully, they get something done. The world wants to see Lamar be a Baltimore Raven for the rest of his life. . . . [T]he world wants to watch Lamar Jackson. That’s a phenom talent, a talent that you rarely come by. Things that he do on the field and things that you see, to be quite honest when he’s out there, he makes everybody play better, just to have him in that huddle. I pray that somebody reach out to him or that he’s really truly getting healthy and can play, that he wake up Thursday and be like, ‘All right, forget it. I’m playing.’ I think that would change the whole trajectory of our season.”
Conjugate those verbs Mike
Having a WR, who isn’t even good btw, call out your franchise QB for not playing through injury is pretty weak. Especially when that WR admits he knows nothing about the extent of the injury. Someone really needs to tell Watkins to STFU. The fact that no one has prob tells u everything u need to know about both that locker room as well as Jackson’s relationship with the front office. It’s clearly time for Jackson to move on, for everyone’s sake.
Watkins should have been asked if he would accept a pay cut to facilitate a quicker extension for Lamar. That would have shut him up rather quickly.
Seems like Lamar is ‘All in’ on getting the hell out of Baltimore. It’s one thing to let down the organization but it’s another to let down your teammates. The ones you’ve gone into ‘battle’ with and share bonds with.
The PCL is the least important ligament in your knee. In fact many people are walking around with a torn one or are missing one and don’t know it and are not bothered by it. In fact many times when a player tears an ACL the PCL also tears, however they only repair the ACL and totally remove the PCL. As Sammy Watkins pointed out everyone in the NFL are playing with injuries at this point of the season. (Look at Mike White of the Jets, played with 5 broken ribs).
How can he be a team leader when he clearly has a me first attitude, but would expect others to put the team first? If he gets the DeShaun Watson type deal and keeps this mindset, expect Lamar to play about 7-8 games a year. After all you make the big bucks to come through and play on the big games. Well, that is every player except Lamar.
He’s not going to risk it when he’s on the verge of signing a big deal. Even he knows his NFL tenure is going to be extremely short, and for some reason, people still want to pay him.
No, there is no big deal on the horizon. There’s either the deal he’s been offered or there’s a franchise tag. The Ravens best move now is the non-exclusive franchise tag and hope someone else offers Watson the pot of gold he wants and the Ravens get two first round draft picks. They can consider that they got off easily.
I’d hate to see what a six guaranteed seasons $300 million contract would bring. Skipping the playoffs because you don’t feel like playing is a major red flag. Skipping the playoffs because you are injured late season every year is a different and equally serious red flag.
I don’t understand anyone who wants to bet their franchise on a running QB who is already five seasons in. Has no one followed the career trajectory of running QB’s including even hulk-like Cam Newton (built like a middle linebacker)?
No one is going to give 2 first-round draft picks for a running QB claiming he has an unstable knee (and hasn’t done anything about it yet). If Baltimore tags him, he’s going to be theirs in 2023, which also means he could hold out or get surgery right before training camp.
The last two seasons should have shown the Ravens what a long term deal with Jackson will yield.
The ravens didn’t make the playoffs last year, Lamar has yet to miss a playoff start
Let Jackson go he’s a bum anyway. All running QB’s are garbage QB’s imo. For every hurts, Jackson and fields. I’ll take a Herbert, Lawrence and Allen every day of the week and twice on Sunday
I am interested in a long term relationship with Jody Comer. Wonder who has the better chance?
Were I the Ravens, I wouldn’t even consider signing him long term after he decides 99% isn’t good enough for a playoff game.
Russell Wilson him.
Or franchise him one more year and then Russell Wilson him.
Leg first QB with a bad leg and a worse attitude…
Yinzers praying that the Ravens give him that Kyler Murray money.
I can see both sides, Ravens and fans want him on the field, but he has no guaranteed $$ after this contract so I can’t fault him at all for waiting on the deal
He’s gone. And it’s a mutual thing. I too can see both sides too. Neither the Ravens nor Lamar want to risk further injury. This seems very similar to the Carr/Raiders scenario. Raiders don’t want him and Carr wants to move on.
Next year. LJ is a Raider and Carr a Raven? Conspiracy theory. League headquarters and all owners have already signed off on it. Raiders home attendance is brutal. Lamar can goose it. Ravens get an experienced QB with a contract term and pay amount known.
Do you think more people would really pay to see the Raiders field a backup QB for most of next season? Carr would be a bigger draw than Lamar in his current state of repair.