Could Lamar Jackson's contract negotiations be warning to NFL owners? NFL analyst raises question with Ravens stalling
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson headlines the list of free-agent quarterbacks this off-season. As his rookie contract expires on March 15, he will be free to negotiate with other teams if he doesn't reach an agreement or remains without a franchise tag at that point.
While Jackson is in talks with the Ravens to reach a long-term deal, it seems like the two parties are far off, specifically in terms of guaranteed money. Jackson reportedly wants a fully-guaranteed contract after the Browns gave Deshaun Watson a similar deal last season.
#Browns went all in: Deshaun Watson will have a $54.9M cap hit for Cleveland every season until 2026, via @SharpFootball
A player has never had a cap hit over $39M, until Deshaun Watson with his fully guaranteed contract https://t.co/Y7flew8G2F
On ESPN's Get Up, NFL insider Mike Greenberg said Jackson's contract situation could be a warning to NFL owners:
"This is an inflection point in the league because one such deal is an outlier, or two of them is a trend. And the reality is that if Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert and some of the other guys come in and say, 'We're doing this, too,' then all of a sudden that is for a Pandora's box. The owners will not be able to keep shut."
When you think of players such as Watson, who has a $230 million fully guaranteed contract, Kyler Murray, who has a $189 million guaranteed, and Russell Wilson, who has $165 million, it's hard not to argue that Jackson should be paid more than them.
Lamar Jackson should get paid like a top-five quarterback
Lamar Jackson has proved his worth. He has a regular-season career record of 45-16 and won the league's MVP in 2019 by a unanimous vote.
Since taking over as the Ravens' starting quarterback midway through the 2018 season, he's led them to the playoffs in all but one season (2021). In five seasons, he's thrown for 12,209 yards, 101 touchdowns, and 38 interceptions, adding 4,437 yards rushing and 24 touchdowns.
The Ravens should make him one of the top-five highest-paid quarterbacks because he is the best quarterback on the market who is set to hit free agency. If they elect to move on from him, they'll have to go through the process of signing one in free agency in a weaker quarterback free agency class.
The Ravens also have a late pick in the first round at pick No. 22 and wouldn't get a top quarterback in the draft.
If you use any of the above quotes, please credit Mike Greenberg, ESPN, Get Up, and H/T Sportskeeda.