Free agency has taken over the NFL landscape this week, but one of the top storylines around the league remains the future of Lamar Jackson. Contract talks between the Ravens and the former MVP have left the parties in a stalemate, which resulted in the usage of the non-exclusive franchise tag. 
Taking that route opens up the possibility of another team signing Jackson to an offer sheet, something which could not take place until tomorrow at the earliest. During the league’s 48-hour legal tampering period, teams are allowed to negotiate deals with a player’s representatives, but not the player themselves. Since Jackson has quite notably gone throughout the process of handling his next deal without an agent, he is not eligible to speak with teams other than the Ravens, who have been adamant that their goal remains a long-term deal.
Speaking of, it looks unlikely that Jackson will suddenly hire an agent. Those in league circles tell Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com that the QB is unlikely to suddenly change his mind and hire representation. Those sources believe Jackson is unlikely to admit his mistake, even if hiring an agent is best for his career.
A number of teams have reportedly bowed out of any potential pursuit of the 26-year-old, who has long been thought to be seeking a fully guaranteed pact in a similar vein to the one signed by Deshaun Watson last offseason after the Browns traded for him. Baltimore’s hesitancy to match or exceed those terms (five years, $230MM) has left the two sides in their current situation.
Potential suitors are wary of offering Jackson a contract because they’d surely be in limbo while the Ravens determine how to proceed, per Rapoport (on Twitter). Ultimately, it sounds like these teams believe the QB will end up back in Baltimore, and those potential suitors have no interest in doing Baltimore’s negotiating for them. ESPN’s Dan Graziano writes that teams would rather discuss a potential trade with the Ravens after the franchise tag has been resolved, although that path would still require those suitors to eventually talk with Jackson.
Jackson recently gave us a quick look behind the curtain, revealing on Twitter that the Ravens have offered him a three-year, $133MM deal that’s fully guaranteed. As NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport points out (via Twitter), Jackson preferred to take the franchise tag over that offer, and the reporter adds that the Ravens have tried a number of contract lengths to get Jackson to bite.
On the bright side Lamar, the tag means your contract is fully guaranteed!
No way I’d want him on my team fully guaranteed. In a couple years when he slows down, his only attribute is gone.
Whose the bigger fool? The ones offering or the ones not accepting?
The one* offering, nobody but the Ravens want him apparently.
The storyline that no one wants him is laughable. These are the types of things billionaires do to stay rich.
Plenty of teams want him, they just don’t want to have to pay the picks *and* a big contract.
The one (singular) not accepting
Wouldn’t it be classic Dan Snyder to trade 4 1sts round picks (or a huge offer to Balt), sign him to a huge deal, & then sell the team! One last middle finger.
The ravens can’t recoup more value than two firsts in a trade because of the tag.
3 years/133 million dollars guaranteed.. and he turned it down. When I look at he and Rodgers I think about what my old man once said.. that’s what happens when what you used to be grateful for becomes something you expect.
In this market, he absolutely should have turned it down. Look at what Daniel Jones got and Lamar is way better than Jones. Would your old man turn down far less money than he could get? I bet he would.
Absolutely? Right.. They were offering him a 3 year deal so he could have an opportunity at another contract at a fairly young age. But my comment was really more about the flippant tweet he put out dismissing it like it was chump change. That and the ridiculous bending over that princess Aaron is forcing the Jets to do. That’s when gratitude becomes expectation.
Idk as a comp Watson got 230/5 fully guaranteed without a league MVP, and having been suspended.
Kyler got 230/5 with 190 guaranteed…
Even Daniel Jones got 160/4
and you think 133/3 is fair cmon now
I know there won’t be heaps of suitors and not many teams will have cos space but I’d say 184/4 fully guaranteed would be a good deal. 46 per year guaranteed, little less than Watson and Kyler overall but on a per year basis the same minus incentives. More than what Baltimore was offering, and Baltimore haven’t provided you with any weapons.
As for a landing spot, I love the idea of ATL.
Following in the footsteps of Micheal Vick and will cement his elf as the best rushing QB ever. Great city, great culture, easy division. Enough weapons with Patterson, London and Pitts. Allgeier will take some carries and I’m sure they will look to add more.
Nice that your willing to spend other people’s $ on a player that doesn’t put being on the field w his team #1.
First Jones contract only has $82 million guaranteed, Lamar was offered $133 million guaranteed with only less year. His AAV is 44.33 million a year and once again it’s guaranteed, so he gets every penny. Only QB you can compare that to is Watson and the Browns were desperate. Lamar should have taken that $133 got paid and hit the market again in 3 years and show he is worth an even bigger contract.
If I were the Colts I would sign Jackson after the draft to a contract with $230 million guaranteed with it being front loaded, Baltimore won’t/can’t match that. Indy could re-stock with high end draft picks this year and be a top 5 team in the NFL. The Ravens would only receive a very low 1st round pick in 2024/2025
If he’s smart he’ll keep playing on the franchise tag and see what the Eagles pay Hurts, that will establish his market and then the Ravens will have to act.