EXCLUSIVE: "He'll be a Raven come next year" - Ex-NFL HC Mike Smith believes Lamar Jackson will stay in Baltimore despite exit rumors
The Baltimore Ravens have played their last three games without Lamar Jackson, who has been nursing a PCL injury that will reportedly keep him out of the team's remaining two regular-season games. The Ravens have won two and lost one of the three games that Jackson has missed and have already punched their ticket to the playoffs, giving their franchise cornerstone the time he needs to heal from his injury.
Lamar Jackson took the entire defender’s body down with him through his left knee. There should be some concern for PCL and/or inside the joint injury.
Severity will determine his timeline. TBD. https://t.co/741DE7PlSc
Jackson is in his fifth season with the Ravens and is due a contract extension next year. The quarterback reportedly turned down a six-year, $290 million deal, claiming that the guaranteed money was well below what he desired. Jackson reportedly wants at least $230 million in guaranteed money, making him the highest-paid quarterback alongside Cleveland Browns' Deshaun Watson.
On the latest episode of Sportskeeda's BallFather Podcast, former Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith addressed the contract standstill between the Ravens and Jackson. He said:
"They'll get it worked out. He's too good of a football player. They'll figure it out, he'll be a Baltimore Raven come next year and he'll be one that's paid handsomely."
Smith suggested that Ravens fans would go ballistic if the team allowed Jackson to walk away from the franchise:
"There's no way Lamar Jackson's not a Baltimore Raven in my opinion. The fans will go crazy if he's not."
Lamar Jackson and the Ravens will be a threat in the playoffs
Since Lamar Jackson's injury, the Ravens haven't been discussed as Super Bowl contenders. The Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, and Cincinnati Bengals are touted as the favorites to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl in February. However, Smith believes that Jackson and the Ravens will be tough to beat in the playoffs:
"There's no doubt the Ravens with a healthy Lamar Jackson will be a force to be reckoned with. Simply because you got to account for him."
With their playoff ticket punched, the Ravens will look to preserve their starters in the final two games of the regular season and hope that Jackson recovers in time for their Wildcard game. If the former NFL MVP returns to the lineup, the Ravens could become the team to beat in the AFC.
The latest episode of the BallFather podcast will be out soon. If you use any of the above quotes, please credit Sportskeeda.