NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport has offered an update regarding contract talks between the Baltimore Ravens and quarterback Lamar Jackson.
“The deal that the Ravens offered Lamar Jackson was pretty strong,” Rapoport said during a Monday appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” as shared by Kevin Parrish Jr. of The Spun. “$200M was the total guaranteed and the $133M was guaranteed on a shorter deal.”
(Warning: Video contains not-safe-for-work language)
Rapoport was speaking shortly after it was learned that the Philadelphia Eagles and Jalen Hurts had agreed to a five-year extension worth up to $255M with $179.3M guaranteed. The NFL Network personality also took to Twitter to provide additional information on what Baltimore has thus far been willing to give Jackson this offseason:
According to Timm Hamm of FanNation’s Ravens Country, ESPN’s Adam Schefter has said on multiple occasions that the Ravens offered Jackson “$133M guaranteed” at signing before the 2022 season.
The Ravens used the non-exclusive franchise tag to retain Jackson’s rights on March 7, and he subsequently announced he requested a trade on March 2. He can speak with other clubs about a contract while on the tag, but Baltimore can either match any offer he accepts or receive two first-round draft picks as compensation.
It’s been widely reported by multiple outlets that Jackson wants to top the $230M in fully guaranteed money Deshaun Watson received from the Cleveland Browns in March 2022. To compare, Jackson is currently on track to play on the tag worth roughly $32.416M for 2023.
ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky, NFL insider Jason La Canfora, NBC Sports’ Peter King and Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio are among knowledgeable individuals who have publicly said they believe Jackson could threaten to hold out rather than play on the tag. The deadline for teams to sign tagged players to long-term deals is July 17.
Jackson’s injury history, the fact he’s been negotiating without a representative certified by the NFL Players Association and other teams being unwilling to spend the necessary draft picks and money to land his services all seem to be working against the 26-year-old this spring. Once multiple clubs use top draft assets to acquire young signal-callers on April 27, Jackson may find that he has no other choice than to return to Baltimore for at least one more season.
