Perhaps the marriage between the Baltimore Ravens and star quarterback Lamar Jackson can be salvaged, after all.
Hours after Jackson announced via Twitter that he requested a trade from the Ravens on March 2, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported during an on-air segment that the one-time Most Valuable Player was “actively negotiating with” Baltimore “in the past week or so.”
Rapoport added that he believes Jackson publicizing the trade request “is more about money” than it is a sign that the relationship between the 26-year-old and the Ravens is fractured beyond repair.
Before March 2, NFL insider Jason La Canfora indicated that the situation involving Jackson and the Ravens had gotten personal for the signal-caller because he allegedly felt disrespected by offers he’d received from his current employer. Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio then raised eyebrows when he said last week that a representative “not certified by the NFL Players Association” had reached out to teams about Jackson’s availability and told them that he “is ready to move on from the Ravens.”
Jackson has not used a certified agent during talks with Baltimore.
Jackson has reportedly been looking to earn a fully guaranteed salary similar to the guaranteed $230M the Cleveland Browns gave Deshaun Watson last year. The Ravens clearly haven’t met that request and instead used the non-exclusive franchise tag to keep Jackson’s rights, making him free to speak with other clubs about contracts. Baltimore could match any offer or receive two first-round draft picks as compensation.
Earlier on Monday, ESPN NFL insider Chris Mortensen reported that at least one team is “hesitant” to pursue Jackson due to concerns related to the fact that he has missed 11 games (playoffs included) since Week 1 of the 2021 season because of injury issues. Mortensen also said there are questions about Jackson’s “sleep habits and nutrition.”
As Florio pointed out, the Ravens and Jackson have until July 17 to sign a long-term extension. Otherwise, he would be on track to play on the franchise tag worth around $32.4M unless he sits games out.
