On April 27, 2023, QB Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens reached an agreement on a 5-year, $260 million contract. The deal includes $185 million in guaranteed money. With this deal, only 10 days after Philadelphia Eagles' QB Jalen Hurts signed his hefty contract, Jackson will now be the highest-paid player in NFL history.
Jackson was previously placed under the Ravens' non-exclusive franchise tag on March 7. The move to tag Jackson was amid a two-year contract negotiation, with ESPN stating the total of the negotiations was "27 months". The franchise tag allowed Jackson to talk to other teams for a contract, while the Ravens would have an opportunity to match any offer sheet. Unfortunately, Jackson did not get any public interest from any other clubs. The frustration led to a public trade request by Jackson, announced on March 27.
As of March 2nd," Jackson stated, in a tweet. "I requested a trade from the Ravens organization for which the Ravens has not been interested in meeting my value, any and everyone that’s has met me or been around me know I love the game of football and my dream is to help a team win the Super Bowl. You all are great but I had to make a business decision that was best for my family and I. No matter how far I go or where my career takes me, I’ll continue to be close to my fans of Baltimore Flock nation and the entire State of Maryland. You’ll see me again."
On April 9, the Ravens signed former Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to a 1-year deal. The signing led to a viral tweet that showcased Beckham and Jackson on FaceTime to celebrate the new duo. Many can figure the signing of Beckham is a reason why negotiations between the Ravens and Jackson had been back in session.
Later on April 27, the Ravens would draft Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers at number 22 in the first round. The signing of Beckham and the drafting of Flowers seem to be good first steps to show that the Ravens are willing to fully build their roster around the star quarterback.
Jackson is known for being one of the most valued quarterbacks in the NFL, mainly for his quickness and ability to scramble as a quarterback. Unfortunately, Jackson "finished the past two seasons on the sidelines. He missed the final six games this past year, including a wild-card loss in Cincinnati, with a PCL sprain," as reported by NFL.com. However, Jackson is still only 26 years old, and only a few seasons removed from his incredible MVP campaign in 2019.
Lamar Jackson would announce the news via a Twitter video posted by the Ravens. "You know, for the last few months, there's been a lot of he's said, she's said," Jackson explained, as reported by NFL.com. "A lot of nail-biting, a lot of head scratching going on, but for the next five years, it's a lot of flock going on. Let's go, baby.
On the subject of the contract negotiations, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta would state (quote from NFL.com):
"I know that our appreciation and love for Lamar has really never wavered, but it was business, as well. And I said today, and I feel that way. Sometimes with family, things can get tough. We all feel that sometimes. … There was definitely some emotion, but in the end, we've been blessed to have Lamar as part of this organization for a long time. We've won a lot of football games. I think he feels this place is special, too."
Comentários