Report: Lamar Jackson Turned Down $200M Guaranteed Contract
Analysis 3/13/23
New details have emerged about the Baltimore Ravens‘ contract negotiations with quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Last offseason, Jackson turned down a contract from the Ravens that would’ve guaranteed $133 million at signing, ESPN’s Adam Schefter said on his podcast Monday. The deal included $175 million in injury guarantees and could’ve jumped to $200 million guaranteed in Year 3.
Jackson turned down the contract hoping to receive a fully guaranteed deal this offseason. While he still could get a fully guaranteed deal, reports indicate no team plans to submit an offer sheet on Jackson after Baltimore placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on him.
This season, the non-exclusive franchise tag for a quarterback will cost approximately $32.4 million. The Ravens have until July 15 to reach a deal with Jackson before he is locked into the tag for 2023.
Any team looking to acquire the former MVP would have to send the Ravens two first-round picks and convince Baltimore not to match the contract they agreed to with Jackson.
The Ravens have been confident they’d come to an agreement with Jackson all offseason. In January, coach John Harbaugh said they were “200 percent” certain they’d sign Jackson to a long-term contract.
Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta released a statement after placing the tag on Jackson, saying the team wants him in Baltimore long-term.
“Having not yet reached a long-term deal with Lamar Jackson, we will use the franchise tag,” DeCosta wrote in a statement. “There have been many instances across the league and in Baltimore where a player has been designated with the franchise tag and has signed a long-term deal that same year. We will continue to negotiate in good faith with Lamar, and we are hopeful that we can strike a long-term deal that is fair to both Lamar and the Ravens. Our ultimate goal is to build a championship team with Lamar Jackson leading the way for many years to come.”
While the Ravens still appear to be optimistic, some on the outside, like The 33rd Team’s Dave Wannstedt, don’t agree.
“I wouldn’t be surprised with a new offensive coordinator coming in that the Ravens say, you know what, we’ll take those draft picks and we’re moving on down the line,” Wannstedt said when the Ravens placed the tag on Jackson.