A Corridor of Fame agent? Watch for the Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson to repay

OWINGS MILLS, Md. Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has established himself as the most effective gamers in soccer, setting data and creating notable factors via his capacity to dribble defenders.

Now, Jackson is being praised for being on prime of the sport with the best way he dealt with the situation of his contract.

By not signing a final season extension as Buffalo Payments quarterback Josh Allen, Jackson set himself as much as earn a minimum of an extra $130 million in assured cash and over $7 million a season. One of many few NFL gamers not represented by an agent, Jackson is praised as loudly because the time he threw for over 400 yards and 4 touchdowns.

“If I am Lamar Jackson, I stroll [Ravens owner] Steve Bisciotti and my workplace merely put our toes up on his desk and say, “Hey, nice information to you, Mr. Bisciotti, I do not need a greenback greater than Deshaun Watson. However, by the best way, I would not take lower than a greenback. So, once you’re prepared to write down a test for 230 million {Dollars}, I will signal him “”And as a lot as Lamar Jackson has as a participant, he waits and represents himself, he is truly going to go down as a Corridor of Fame agent.”

Like Allen, Jackson is now eligible for a final season contract extension. Not like Allen, Jackson selected to not pursue a brand new deal.

Final summer time, Allen signed a six-year extension price $258 million, averaging $43 million per season and together with a assured $100 million upon signing. These quarterback contracts broke earlier requirements, with Aaron Rodgers taking a $50 million-a-year cope with the Inexperienced Bay Packers and Watson receiving a $230 million assured contract ($80 million greater than any former NFL participant) with the Cleveland Browns.

It stays to be seen what Kyler Murray and Russell Wilson can obtain over the following yr. Murray is claimed to need an extension with the Arizona Cardinals forward of the NFL draft on the finish of April. Wilson is ready for a brand new deal after buying and selling with the Denver Broncos.

“It is one of many nice issues about Lamar Jackson, he is so distinctive,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh mentioned at league conferences this week. “He is only a man who would not get caught up in issues, whether or not he cannot management or he would not wish to discuss on the time, he will not have to fret about it.”

“If you will need to him, clearly it is going to be a precedence at the moment. I’m positive we are going to get one thing achieved. He has his causes, he thinks the best way he does. What he mainly shares with me is: “I centered on being the most effective midfielder. . I’ve to go to work. Past that, I believe when the time comes, it would occur.”

On Tuesday, Bisciotti questioned whether or not Jackson would comply with the identical path as quarterback Kirk Cousins, who opted to not signal with Washington after a rookie deal expired in 2016. Cousins ​​then acquired the franchise tag twice earlier than hitting free company in 2018, when He left to signal a three-year, absolutely assured $84 million cope with the Minnesota Vikings. His common annual wage of $28 million was the very best in NFL historical past.

Jackson, 25, is on his fifth yr decide, which can pay him $23.016 million this season. If the 2 events cannot agree on a brand new deal, Baltimore must use the franchise mark on him in 2023 and 2024 to disclaim him entry to free company. Underneath this situation, Jackson would hit free company in 2025 at age 28. Pisciotti estimated that quarterbacks can be making $60 million a season by that time.

“With Lamar, you by no means know, it is not likely within the prime of his thoughts at any time when I discuss to him. I prefer to get one thing achieved. I believe he is planning on doing one thing. We’re planning on doing one thing in some unspecified time in the future,” Harpo mentioned.

Nobody is aware of Jackson’s plans as a result of he hasn’t talked a lot concerning the standing of his contract, besides to say his focus lies elsewhere, equivalent to successful the Tremendous Bowl and getting higher on the quarterback. On Wednesday, Jackson criticized hypothesis that he needed to go away Baltimore, and tweeted that he loves ravens.

I like my crows, and I do not know who put up that false narrative that I am enthusiastic about leaving, and cease attempting to learn my thoughts🙄

– Lamar Jackson (@Lj_era8) March 30, 2023

One argument is that Jackson ought to be seeking to receives a commission instantly due to his taking part in fashion. Whether or not it is operating or attempting to increase the performs, Jackson has earned 736 occasions since taking up the quarterback for the Ravens in the midst of the 2018 season. That is 64 occasions greater than any quarterback throughout that point.

If Jackson suffers a significant harm, it may cut back his worth. Regardless of this, Jackson was very strong. He missed the final 4 video games of final season with a bruise in his proper foot, however it was the primary time he missed any video games in his four-year profession as a result of harm. He was additionally injured whereas attempting to throw the ball and never run on the sector.

Bisciotti would not see this as a giant danger. He recalled how Burrow tore up the AFC Champions League in 2020 and led the Bengals to the Tremendous Bowl a yr later.

“Oh, Lamar is extra delicate? These guys knock their arms on a helmet and lose six matches, like Drew Brees. Are you aware what I imply? Borough was not operating. It was within the pocket. His anterior cruciate ligament was crushed and torn.

“This operating quarterback, the next propensity for harm, individuals have preferred to wager that it must be, and I do not know anybody has supported it by any type of research. I simply do not know that anybody has achieved it earlier than. Is Have you ever seen him earlier than? They speak about him like he is gospel, like in case you’re a midfielder, you are extra vulnerable to harm. He is like, ‘Present me. Present me the stats. I’ve by no means seen them earlier than.'”

The Ravens have made it clear that they wish to make a long-term dedication to Jackson. Uncertainty is when Jackson will start to interact in contract talks and the way a lot it would price to get the deal achieved.

“I believe with out the QB that you simply imagine in, life is dangerous as an NFL proprietor and fan base,” Bisciotti later mentioned, including, “We’ll pay him when he is prepared.”