One of the interesting subplots this NFL season is the number of quality free agents that could be available come March.
Tom Brady, Jimmy Garoppolo, Baker Mayfield, Saquon Barkley, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Josh Jacobs could all be available on the open market once the offseason begins.
Another big name that could be had is Lamar Jackson, the talented and unique quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens.
He reportedly turned down a hefty contract extension a few months ago, and he is reportedly seeking a fully-guaranteed contract worth about $230 million, which is what Deshaun Watson got just after the Cleveland Browns traded for him.
Is Jackson really worth all that money?
Jackson Isn’t The Best Passer Around
When it comes to Jackson’s ability to move the chains by himself with his legs, there’s no quarterback who is better than him.
Through 11 games this year he has 755 rushing yards on 6.8 yards per attempt, plus three rushing touchdowns.
Lamar Jackson: 27 rushes of 10+ yds
2nd in the NFL 🤯 pic.twitter.com/ktSIqmL3Sk
— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) November 26, 2022
But the question with him has always been his ability as a passer.
He has completed just 62.1 percent of his passes this year, and he has gotten over 65 percent for an entire season only once.
Jackson is also somewhat interception-prone – he threw 13 picks last season against just 16 touchdowns.
Then there is the matter of the pesky salary cap.
Because of the NFL’s “hard” salary cap, a salary like the one Jackson is demanding could make it virtually impossible for the Ravens to surround him with enough talent to become a Super Bowl contender.
Mark Andrews is a productive tight end, but they currently lack any top-flight wide receivers who can be a difference-maker.
Baltimore should do what it can to keep Jackson, but giving him too much money could come back to haunt them.
NEXT: Ravens HC Calms Any Lamar Jackson Week 11 Concerns