Dan Orlovsky claims Ravens risk losing locker room over Lamar Jackson’s contract negotiations

The Baltimore Ravens and Lamar Jackson's contract situation is dragging on, and former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky of ESPN is wondering what the saga is doing to the locker room.

After contract negotiations have dragged on for the best part of two years, Jackson and the Ravens are no closer to thrashing out a deal. With Jackson slapped with the non-exclusive franchise tag, he will only get one year at $32 million, instead of the long-term deal he wants.

Orlovsky, a guest on "The Pat McAfee Show," thinks that the drawn-out saga and the Ravens' inability to pay their star what he's worth is not good for the locker room:

“It’s a tough look in your locker room. Could you imagine that locker room? He’s taken 1,000 hits for us at the quarterback spot, but that’s why I don’t get it. I saw people this last week come up and be like, 'What are we doing, fans of Baltimore, what are we doing with Lamar?' I said I don’t know.”

"Lamar Jackson has taken a THOUSAND hits for that Ravens organization and they won't pay him what he deserves" ~ @danorlovsky7

#PMSLive https://t.co/oVE0l84cBw

Lamar Jackson has been a model citizen for Baltimore, has won an MVP and numerous games, yet the organization still hasn't given the quarterback what he wants. With Jackson's future anything but certain, it is a tough time in Baltimore.

Could Lamar Jackson leave Baltimore?

It is hard to envision a world where Jackson isn't the quarterback of the Baltimore Ravens, but that feels like the road the team is heading down.

While the Ravens slapped the non-exclusive franchise tag on the quarterback, he can choose not to play by not signing it. Of course, he would lose $32 million, so it is wise to play even if he isn't happy.

But what if the money isn't a factor for Lamar Jackson? He could, in theory, leave the Ravens out in the cold and sit out the entire 2023 season.

It does seem highly unlikely that it will happen, but given how things have gone over the last few months, never say never.