Lamar Jackson is playing hardball with the Ravens, declining any and all offers from the team that drafted him 32nd overall in 2018. Per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Jackson has gone radio silent, ignoring the Ravens whenever they reach out about extending his contract.
“They send him contract proposals and he doesn’t even reply,” said Garafolo during his appearance on Good Morning Football. “They’re like, ‘Hey, here’s the proposal.’ And he’s like, ‘Yeah, no.’ And not like countered it. Just ‘No.’”
Jackson, who represents himself in lieu of an agent, has one year remaining on his rookie deal. The former MVP clearly feels he can maximize his earning potential by either going the free-agent route in 2023 or accepting the franchise tag (the franchise tender for quarterbacks this year was $29.7 million).
Jackson is obviously taking a major risk by waiting to sign a long-term deal, but if the 25-year-old can stay healthy while continuing to play at an elite level, betting on himself could prove quite profitable. With the salary cap (currently set at $208.2 million) expected to keep rising, the quarterback market should too, as evidenced by recent deals inked by Aaron Rodgers (four years, $200 million with $153 million guaranteed) and Matthew Stafford (reported $45 million annually).
Jackson is taking the opposite tact of Kyler Murray, who is already badgering the Cardinals for a long-term commitment. It’s doubtful the Ravens would consider trading Jackson, though it wouldn’t hurt a quarterback-needy team like the Panthers or Colts to ask. Jackson’s reported rift with Baltimore represents the latest saga in what has already been a chaotic offseason with Pro Bowlers Russell Wilson and Carson Wentz traded to Denver and Washington, respectively.
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