Many around the league have been waiting to see the Ravens’ decision with Lamar Jackson. A long-term deal will not be finalized in time for today’s deadline, though. ESPN’s Kimberley Martin reports (via Twitter) that Baltimore is using the non-exclusive franchise tag. A team announcement confirms that the less expensive tag option is their chosen route with the former MVP.
With contract talks resulting in an impasse between the two sides, it comes as little surprise at this point that the tag has been used. Over the course of the weekend, reports emerged that the Ravens were leaning towards going the no-exclusive route, something which carries potential financial benefits from the team’s perspective but also a great deal of risk. 
The non-exclusive tag carries a value of $32.4MM, a figure which is far lower than the roughly $45MM the exclusive version would have cost. In that regard, the former option was the most logical one with respect to Baltimore’s cap situation. However, other teams will now be eligible to send the 26-year-old an offer sheet, which would not have been possible had the Ravens used the exclusive tag. One team frequently linked to Jackson via an offer sheet or tag-and-trade scenario is the Falcons. However, Atlanta will not pursue such a move, per ESPN’s Dianna Russini (Twitter link).
Baltimore would have the option to match any offer sheet which Jackson signs. If they elect not to, they will receive two first-round picks as compensation from Jackson’s new team. The fact that not every squad currently owns Day 1 selections in each of the next two years slightly shrinks the list of potential suitors for him, but competition could quickly ramp up. Jackson, a two-time Pro Bowler, would constitute a significant upgrade over many other incumbent QBs.
The Louisville product has been eligible for a new deal from the Ravens since 2020, but at no point has one seemed to be particularly close. Annual compensation is not thought to be a sticking point from the Ravens’ side, even though any multi-year extension would have surely been the most lucrative in franchise (perhaps league) history. Rather, the matter of guarantees has long been the most pressing issue. Jackson is reportedly seeking a fully-guaranteed pact, a desire seemingly made more plausible after Deshaun Watson‘s historic deal signed with the Browns last offseason.
The Ravens – led by owner Steve Bisciotti – have publicly spoken out against the possibility of making such a commitment to Jackson (and, by extension, a number of other young QBs around the league when they sign second contracts). New deals for Kyler Murray and Russell Wilson signed in 2022 pointed to the Watson accord being an outlier, rather than a new benchmark. That presumably gave the Ravens some leverage in negotiations, but a compromise has not been found.
By going the non-exclusive route, Baltimore is banking on the rest of the league agreeing that full guarantees are too great of a risk for Jackson. The All-Pro has missed five regular season games in each of the past two seasons, including the Ravens’ wild-card loss in 2022. The nature of his PCL injury increasingly became a point of contention as his absence continued deeper into the year, and tension is thought to have increased during the direct negotiations between Jackson himself and GM Eric DeCosta.
Injury problems could scare off other teams to the point where they don’t make an offer to Jackson, or at least one which the Ravens don’t feel comfortable matching. The earliest that teams can submit an offer sheet is the start of the new league year on March 15. Another factor to keep in mind is the possibility of a tag-and-trade situation, where Baltimore could deal him anywhere for any package of trade compensation. That would only be possible, however, after he signed the franchise tender – something he is under no obligation to do until much later in the offseason.
Jackson is the eighth player in franchise history to receive the tag, a move which has more often than not resulted in a long-term deal being agreed upon before the July deadline. Attention will continue to be placed on the two sides in this situation, as negotiations will continue in the hopes of a mega-deal being finalized before the possibility of Jackson skipping portions of the offseason becomes more likely.
A statement from DeCosta reads in part, “We will continue to negotiate in good faith with Lamar, and we are hopeful that we can strike a long-term deal that is fair to both Lamar and the Ravens. Our ultimate goal is to build a championship team with Lamar Jackson leading the way for many years to come.”
Jackson’s importance to the Ravens – from his numerous all-time NFL records to his overall winning percentage of .707% since 2019 – is clear for any observer. The degree to which it is seen and acted upon by any other team (and if so, Baltimore’s willingness to keep him in place for the long-term future) will be a major storyline as the QB landscape takes shape.
Damn
Aaaaaand he’s gone after this season.
On one hand, another team could sign him to a deal that’s structured in a way that would be so damaging to the Ravens’ short term cap that they can’t stomach matching it. On the other hand, negotiating without an agent seems to be so difficult that maybe Baltimore sees its best chance at keeping him a long-term deal to be letting some other team negotiate the contract for them. Weird situation. If they can work out a contract, I could see Atlanta jumping to acquire him for two first rounders. They managed a middle of the pack offense while going with the run-heaviest approach in football and having Marcus Mariota at QB.
With all their 2023 cap room, Falcons could offer Lamar a $60M incentive if he reaches 50 yards rushing in 2023. As a “Likely To Be Earned” incentive it would count fully against the 2023 cap.
Good luck matching that one. Lol.
I think that would cross over into the kind of poison pill contract that’s no longer allowed.
Either that, or Baltimore says, “Fine, he’s yours, thanks for the draft capital…”
The article says that ESPN reports the Falcons will not pursue him; neither by offer sheet or tag and trade.
Yeah it probably does.
A funny thought and “technically” it works… but I’m sure the NFL has put something in place to stop contracts like this
If you look up NFL poison pill contracts, you’ll see some fun examples of ways teams made it impossible for other teams to match offers. There’s a good one with Steve Hutchinson and the Vikings.
Yep! Jets did it to the Patriots with Curtis Martin too.
Seattle let Hutch go out and get other offers to see his worth on the open market. Then he let Minn put a clause in the contract that said he had to be the highest player on the field or something like that. It was more involved but that was basics of the deal. Seattle did right by him then he spit in their eye. Now he has HOF shirts with Seattle on them. No thanks jackass keep your shirts and stay in that cold hell hole. I have forgiven him though. No animosity at all. Funny how after all these years it still makes you upset.
In the case of ATL (since this is the team that pops up the most) in one had you would establish the market for Lamar and lose two 1st picks and have an established QB. On the other hand, you could trade less to move up and have a rookie QB on a rookie salary and build around that. Interesting situation.
Sounds like ATL isn’t going to pursue him.
Moving up to get their guy might cost them a future first, which would mean spending two firsts on that QB, too. He’d be on a rookie deal, but he would also be more of an unknown. Atlanta also has the wrinkle that right now they need to spend a lot of money to get up to the salary *floor*, and it’s a weak free agent class.
And here…we…gooo
Is there a loophole that can be exploited or is it only the 2 first round draft picks? Could Baltimore trade back those 2 first rounders for something they would rather? Like if NE signs him but makes a deal with baltimore to get back the 2 first rounders for all its picks not in the first round and Jones ( not proposing this just curious)? Or does baltimore have to take the 2 first rounders
It’s two first rounders, but then they could trade those if they like.
If an offer sheet is signed, that’s it, the picks are gone and the contract is set. They can do a tag and trade though and come to whatever terms they want.
Personally, I feel like Bal is going into this knowing full well theyre gonna match anything anyone offers. Like, its kind of dumb to go through all this but Bal will pay in the end. I think theyre just hoping noone goes 100% guaranteed.
I’m guessing you’re right, but they would also have to match structure, so if someone like Atlanta put a balloon cap hit in the first year, they could make it impossible for Baltimore to match without nuking the roster.
It def doesnt come without risk.
My thought as well. Lamar’s stance is that he knows his value and isn’t moving away from that. If Baltimore thinks it’s a value exceeding their own opinion of him (and how they bet the league would value him), letting him go to market is the best bet. Let’s you match anything within reason, or walk away with significant draft capital and cap space.
The Jets have been rumored to go after Rodgers, but I would offer Lamar a fully guaranteed deal as my first option
Jets aren’t looking to Jackson — for them it’s all about Aaron Rodgers.
If you want Lamar and you’re willing to give up two first rounders, I’d have to imagine that offering him a fully guaranteed contract (or close to it) means the Ravens aren’t matching
Baltimore shouldn’t bother matching any offer, he’s going to sit out the playoffs unless he gets a preposterous fully guaranteed contract. Not worth it.
NFL free agency broken. This suppresses one of the best QBs in the leagues market.
Daniel Jones just got $40 million/year.
I think the quarterbacks are doing OK
This has David Tepper sign and trade all over it.
And don’t say something stupid like the owner has billions..why not just pay the guy. They supposedly offered Lamar $50m per year fully guaranteed for unknown number of years. Lamar rejected it. What else do you want the team to do? Players can demand what they want, but it’s the employers money, and oh, by the way, there is a cap.
This is the PFR’s greatest outcome – as it will generate several month’s worth of new articles that essentially say nothing new.
PFR is very good at headlining their articles. To my knowledge, YOU have the choice to read them or not.
Felt like this would be a good pairing. Good deal for both sides.