Even if the 2022 NFL season is just days away, the Baltimore Ravens and Lamar Jackson haven’t reached an agreement regarding the quarterback’s contract extension.
For now, he will be playing the upcoming campaign under the fifth-year option worth $23 million.
However, he could walk away for nothing if he doesn’t get signed or assigned the franchise tag.
As he represents himself, the former Louisville standout revealed that the Ravens did not offer him a $250 million, fully-guaranteed deal.
While the exact figure is unknown, the Ravens are working round the clock to get Jackson signed before Week 1 of the 2022 season.
Countdown to the Lamar Jackson contract decision. Will any more guaranteed money get added to the deal? S. Bisciotti would never green light a Deshaun Watson-style fully guaranteed deal at all. Jackson has a strong argument for more. My understanding is an improved offer is out.
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) September 5, 2022
CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson tweeted, “Countdown to the Lamar Jackson contract decision. Will any more guaranteed money get added to the deal? S. Bisciotti would never green light a Deshaun Watson-style fully guaranteed deal at all. Jackson has a strong argument for more. My understanding is an improved offer is out.”
Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti is apprehensive in giving Jackson a similar deal to what Watson received from the Cleveland Browns (five years, $230 million, fully guaranteed).
While Jackson has strong credentials to ask for more money, it didn’t help that Russell Wilson signed a partially-guaranteed extension with the Denver Broncos.
Wilson agreed to a five-year, $245 million deal but will only take home $161 million in guaranteed money.
Where Jackson Could End Up
While Kyler Murray gets $189 million in guaranteed money from his five-year deal with the Arizona Cardinals, he averages only $46 million in annual salary.
Jackson deserves more, given that he has led the Ravens to multiple playoff appearances.
His impact on the Ravens’ offense is more profound than Murray’s effect on the Cardinals.
Therefore, Jackson should trump Murray’s extension in terms of value and guaranteed money.
However, it’s hard to put him yet in the level of Wilson ($49 million) and Aaron Rodgers ($50 million annual average).
It’s possible then that the Ravens offered Jackson an annual average value of $48 million.
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