For some reason, former NFL MVP Lamar Jackson still hasn’t been paid, and now that the season is about to start, he will be ending contract talks without a new deal.
Wednesday marked four days out from Baltimore’s season opener, and Lamar Jackson still doesn’t have a new contract.
After previously suggesting that Week 1 would mark the end of his negotiations, the Ravens quarterback set a firmer deadline while speaking with reporters on Wednesday.
Jackson will be paid a little over $23 million, so he won’t be struggling at all, but he should have had a long-term deal long ago.Jackson’s approaching the fifth and final season of his rookie contract after the Ravens exercised a $23 million option for 2022. Without an extension, he’ll be eligible for free agency in the offseason. In that instance, the Ravens would maintain and likely exercise the franchise tag to keep him from hitting the open market.
Kyler Murray signed a $230.5 million extension with the Arizona Cardinals in July with a maximum value that mirrors Watson’s. But the guarantees are capped at $160 million. Russell Wilson signed a similar deal with the Denver Broncos in August worth $245 million that includes $165 million in guarantees.
It’s not clear how far apart Jackson and the Ravens are in negotiations or if Jackson is demanding a fully guaranteed deal similar to Watson’s. As a former league MVP, it stands to reason that he would demand a more lucrative deal than Murray’s. Jackson and Murray are both 25 years old.
How firm Jackson’s deadline is likewise isn’t clear. It’s artificial, but both sides have expressed a desire for Jackson to focus on football once the season starts. Having an extension in place would make doing so considerably easier.
Almost everyone thinks so after we saw Deshaun Watson, Kyler Murray, and Russell Wilson get a new deal, but the Ravens don’t think he deserves what he wants.
Raven fans know his worth, though.
So much so that they have started a GoFundMe for Jackson so he can get the money he deserves. They are looking for $250 million for him but have only raised $65.
A long way off.
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