Lamar Jackson‘s Ravens negotiations haven’t produced a lot in the best way of costs, however the workforce appears to be ready to pay the previous MVP a top-market deal. Nicely, they had been almost there final yr.
Patrick Mahomes‘ $45M-per-year deal topped the quarterback market when the 2021 season ended, with Josh Allen‘s $43M-AAV accord being second. Throughout talks final yr, the Ravens had been ready to hit the Allen threshold for Jackson, with Albert Breer of SI.com noting the workforce matched that AAV in a 2021 provide.
It’s not identified what number of years the Ravens proposed on the $43M-per-year worth or how the provide was structured, however Jackson didn’t budge. The Ravens had been keen to concede Jackson was a $40M-per-year QB throughout their 2021 negotiations, although the agent-less quarterback’s worth has undoubtedly risen since. Aaron Rodgers, Kyler Murray and Deshaun Watson have since bumped Mahomes and Allen down, AAV-wise, to Nos. 4 and 5 amongst NFL earners.
Jackson, 25, has clearly been affected person right here. Regardless of being extension-eligible since January 2021, the three-time Professional Bowler is lower than a month away from his fifth-year choice season. Jackson has additionally set a agency Week 1 deadline for negotiating with the Ravens — one thing he didn’t do final yr. This raises the stakes for Baltimore’s negotiations, which appear to have picked up in latest weeks. This course of has gone from Ravens decision-makers admitting the quarterback didn’t appear concerned about a deal to Jackson indicating he hopes a contract involves move earlier than Week 1.
The twin-threat QB has additionally been related to wanting Watson-level ensures. Whereas Jackson will not be in as sturdy a place to command that historic construction ($230M absolutely assured — $120M north of every other NFLer’s ensures), Watson’s contract has labored his favor. Jackson forcing this problem to the 2023 March franchise tag deadline runs the danger of his worth dropping, through one other damage or a decline in efficiency, however it additionally may immediate the Ravens to use an unique tag. An damage additionally might not injury Jackson’s worth in any respect, given how the Cowboys’ negotiations with Dak Prescott performed out. Gazing a second Prescott tag clogging their cap sheet, the Cowboys got here in with a giant provide simply earlier than a tag wanted to be utilized in 2021.
An unique Jackson tag in 2023 can be value round $45M, Breer provides. A second tag on this situation would prime $50M in 2024. Whereas the Browns are evidently ready to have Watson on their 2023 cap sheet at $54.9M, no workforce has gone right into a season with a participant tied to a $45M cap hit. The Ravens utilizing the unique tag, which prevents provide sheets coming in, subsequent yr would go away a monster Jackson cap maintain on the workforce’s books and harm the group when it comes to including expertise in free company.
