Lamar Jackson agent debate: Shannon Sharpe chimes in on Ravens QB’s stalled negotiations
Before the franchise tag window closed this past Tuesday at 4:00 PM, the Baltimore Ravens placed a non-exclusive tag on Lamar Jackson.
The #Ravens have officially franchised tagged QB Lamar Jackson, giving him the non-exclusive tag. https://t.co/MXzOHvJbWI
The two had hoped to agree on a long-term deal before the deadline but the two sides are still off in talks. While Jackson represents himself in free agency and is likely seeking a contract similar to the fully-guaranteed five-year $230 million deal the Cleveland Browns gave Deshaun Watson.
On Undisputed with Skip and Shannon, Shannon Sharpe was asked if he thought Lamar Jackson would get a deal done if he had an agent. Sharpe doesn't agree and thinks that all an agent does is act as a buffer between the agent and the team.
"Agent or no agent, asking for a fully guaranteed contract of this significant amount when there's only one of those out of 1500 players that have contracts, hell nah. The only thing that agent can do is act as a buffer as to what the team has said and what you're asking for.
"Agent works at the quest of who, you, me and his client. So if he says okay, this is what I got for you he's like no, I want more, what the agent gonna do? It only works if the client is willing to accept what said team has offered. So I don't believe Skip, I don't believe it. But at the end of the day, the agent's best job is to be as a buffer, to be as a filter so you don't hear all that negative stuff that is going to be said."
Would Lamar Jackson have a deal done if he had an agent?
“I don’t believe it. What can the agent do? It only works if the client is willing to accept what the team offered.” — @ShannonSharpe https://t.co/HuM9EHUAia
Lamar Jackson trade will be harder for Ravens than expected
When it was reported that Lamar Jackson received the non-exclusive tag, there was a belief that he would have a strong trading market. However, it seems like it's the opposite since he's been tagged.
One reason why it's tough for teams to make an offer is that the Ravens have five days to match the offer sheet of a team interested. It means that the team would be paralyzed in cap space waiting, with the possibility of missing out on other available QBs.
Complicating factor: If a team signs Lamar Jackson to an offer sheet, Baltimore has five days to match. That knocks that team essentially out of free agency and loses them the other available QBs -- because they are paralyzed in cap space just waiting. Not impossible. But hard. twitter.com/TomPelissero/s…
Lamar Jackson has also run the ball over 700 times in his career and could be experiencing some wear on his body as he's missed games towards the end of the last two seasons.
Jackson could be traded this off-season and we'll see if more interest is picked up next Wednesday when he's able to negotiate with other teams.