Baltimore can’t be this stupid, can they? The Baltimore Ravens have yet to agree to a long-term deal with their franchise quarterback, Lamar Jackson, as the dreaded franchise tag window opens today.
This negotiation might go down as the classic example of what not to do when you need to resign your franchise quarterback.
Despite having the better part of the last two years to get a contract agreed with Lamar Jackson and his family (Jackson’s mother is his manager), the Ravens have sat on their hands and allowed this situation to spiral out of control as they now have less than two weeks to reach an agreement or will be forced to place the franchise tag on Jackson.
And, as we’ve seen throughout the annals of NFL history, players very much do not like playing under the risk-filled tag.
Now, Lamar Jackson is a rather unique case as he not only is representing himself/his family is representing him, but he also showed that he’s willing to play on franchise tags as he did so last season.
Against the wishes and desires of nearly everyone in sports media, sports management, and player agencies, Jackson risked his health and long-term security to prove his worth on the Ravens franchise tag and played great as he racked up 2,242 passing yards, 17 passing TDs, a 62.3% completion percentage, 112 rushing attempts, 764 rushing yards, and 3 TDs.
And it helped him become an early season MVP candidate as the Ravens went 7-4 and were poised for a challenge at first place in the AFC. Then, just like the season before (2021), Jackson got hurt in the final stretch of the campaign and the Ravens slumped to a 10-7 record and an early playoff exit to the Cincinatti Bengals.
Thus, the Ravens and Jackson now find themselves in a heated debate over what the QB is worth as even though he’s one of the NFL’s Top-10 best on his day, the Ravens must feel that he’s too often injured for those days to come around consistently enough.
See why players hate the tag? Even when you win an MVP and prove you’re one of the best QBs in football, one relatively minor injury can derail your entire career.
And to be honest, I think the Ravens are making one of the worst decisions in the franchise’s history if they can’t get Jackson to sign a long-term extension.
Obviously, Jackson’s injury record in the past two seasons is troubling, but the Ravens management is partially responsible as they’ve failed to give him outside targets to prevent him from rushing so often. There’s a reason why rush-first QBs, such as Cam Newton, Kyler Murray, and Randall Cunningham, have gotten hurt far more often than pocket passers, such as Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Matt Ryan, and it’s because they’re exposing themselves to the whims of 250 lbs. linebackers.
If the Ravens had given Jackson better wide receivers at the start of the season, then he might never have gotten hurt, and we wouldn’t be having this conversation.
Anyways, as for the money disagreement, I find it ridiculous that the Ravens are unwilling to offer similar guaranteed money to Lamar Jackson, a former MVP of the league, then what the Browns paid Deshaun Watson, the Broncos paid Russell Wilson, and what the Cardinals paid Kyler Murray. I mean, if Watson can get $200M, Wilson can get $165M, and Murray can get $189.5M, then Lamar Jackson is at least worth a guaranteed $170M or more.
He’s a legit MVP, unlike the rest of the players I just listed (though, Wilson is an outside-chance Hall of Fame QB).
But what do we know? We’re just passionate fans.
I’m sure the Ravens management knows what they are doing and will make the right choice-wait, what was that? The Ravens are seriously looking at trading Lamar Jackson and replacing him with one of the free agent QBs?
Of course, they are.
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