Lamar Jackson might not be getting the offseason contract that has been expected for the last two seasons.
According to a report from earlier today, the Baltimore Ravens have an entirely different plan.
The #Ravens will be franchise tagging QB Lamar Jackson this offseason, according to @RapSheet
Adds that his sense is that it would be the "Exclusive Franchise Tag" which prevents teams from signing him. pic.twitter.com/C2JBWrIoVw
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) January 31, 2023
According to the most recent report coming out of the Ravens’ camp, it appears that the team will be franchise-tagging Jackson in the offseason.
Keep in mind, since Jackson entered the league, the Ravens have a 45-16 record with him as their starter, and 8-13 without him.
The team performs much better when Jackson is on the field, but for some reason or another, the team has yet to sign him to a long-term extension.
2023 will mark Jackson’s sixth NFL season.
By this time in most players’ careers, they have signed a contract extension, or at the very least, a contract with another team.
Despite Jackson’s MVP in 2019 and his continued success with the team, the Ravens keep dragging their feet.
Eventually, Jackson could get tired of the run-around, and leave, although he hasn’t made any frustrations known to the public eye.
The Ravens are in a division with Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals, a team that looks to contend for the division title for the next several years.
Despite Jackson’s success, perhaps, the Ravens don’t believe that he is their long-term answer.
Whatever their rationale, if the Ravens do decide to franchise-tag Jackson, they will get a superstar talent signed to a budget deal.
This is a winning situation for Baltimore, but if their quarterback is unhappy, this decision could come back to haunt them.
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