The Baltimore Ravens and Lamar Jackson have not agreed to terms on a new contract.
If they don’t sign an extension, Jackson could walk away as a free agent after playing out his fifth-year option.
However, patience is a virtue and the former league MVP might reap the fruits of his labor by letting the quarterback market develop.
He has to thank Kyler Murray for that, as NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky pointed out.
LOL
Lamar Jackson gonna get so many dollars
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) July 21, 2022
Orlovsky tweeted, “LOL Lamar Jackson gonna get so many dollars.”
Murray agreed to a five-year, $230.5 million deal with the Arizona Cardinals.
The deal guarantees that the former Oklahoma standout will get $160 million which includes a $29 million signing bonus.
That contract makes Murray the second-highest paid player in the NFL in terms of annual average value.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers ranks first with $50 million.
If Murray was able to negotiate that deal with the help of his agent, Erik Burkhardt, that’s the base rate that Jackson deserves.
After all, players bargain with their teams based on existing deals at their position.
Even if Jackson represents himself, he can justify a higher rate by comparing his credentials to Murray.
Why Jackson Deserves A Higher Value
First of all, he is a former league MVP while Murray isn’t.
That’s a major achievement that deserves a monetary reward.
Likewise, he has better overall stats than Murray, especially because he has two 1,000-rushing-yard seasons.
To his credit, Murray has a higher completion percentage than Jackson.
However, he already has 34 interceptions in three seasons while Jackson has 31 in four years.
It was only during the 2021 season that Jackson had double-digit picks.
Compare that to Murray who has 12, 12, and ten interceptions in his first three years.
Therefore, Jackson should negotiate a deal that averages higher than $46.1 million annually.
NEXT: Ravens Insider Comments On Lamar Jackson's Negotiations