Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is due for a huge contract extension.
If Josh Allen earned a six-year, $258 million deal from the Buffalo Bills, the former Louisville standout can command a comparable amount because he has been a league MVP.
Likewise, his MVP-level performance last season before getting injured is proof that the Ravens are better off having him in the long run.
But while Jackson is already in the last year of his rookie deal, there seems to be no sense of urgency from him or the team to commence contract talks.
At present, he will earn $23,016,000 as part of the Ravens’ fifth-year option and he can easily double that amount once both parties agree to terms.
If nothing happens, Jackson will be a free agent after this season and any team can have him.
However, Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti isn’t pressing the panic button because there’s no development regarding this matter.
He shared his thoughts regarding Jackson to The Athletic-Baltimore senior staff writer Jeff Zrebiec.
Asked about the possibility of Lamar Jackson not signing an ext. this year, Bisciotti said: "Unless he has a change of heart and calls Eric and says I’m ready. But it’s like, Eric can’t keep calling him and say, ‘Hey Lamar, you really need to get in here and get this thing done."
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) March 29, 2022
Bisciotti said, “Unless he has a change of heart and calls Eric [DeCosta] and says I’m ready. But it’s like, Eric can’t keep calling him and say, ‘Hey Lamar, you really need to get in here and get this thing done.'”
No Rush In Negotiating With Jackson
The Ravens know that it’s best to let Jackson go at his own pace.
Recovering from his injury and getting back in shape will be his priority come training camp.
Likewise, it would be easier to have him at the negotiating table because he doesn’t have an agent.
Once he is ready, Jackson can simply contact DeCosta to start the conversation.
Typically, agents have to shuffle their time between multiple clients, which tends to put the process in hyperspeed.
But with Jackson, they can start extension talks as soon as his schedule and readiness permit.
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