The Baltimore Ravens’ season ended in a disappointing loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. The Ravens managed to make the playoffs, but for the second season in a row, they did not finish with their starting quarterback, Lamar Jackson. Now, with Jackson’s contract set to expire, the big question heading into the offseason is, “What do the Ravens do with Lamar?”His contract status for next season could be the determining factor for the team’s success over the foreseeable future. There are two options for the Ravens: They can either keep him or trade him — both present issues for the front office. On one hand, they have a generational talent at quarterback, something that this franchise is not accustomed to. On the other, they only have five draft picks this season, and Jackson would draw a possible record number of picks in a trade scenario.The pressure will be on Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta to figure out what direction the team will take in the future. He and head coach John Harbaugh will be tasked with figuring out what is best for the team. “There’s no question about it, Lamar Jackson is our quarterback. He’s been our quarterback. Everything we’ve done in terms of building our offense and building our team — how we think in terms of (bringing in) people and putting people around him — is based on this incredible young man, his talent, his ability and his competitiveness,” Harbaugh said.What is the best option?The Ravens failed to come to terms with Jackson before the season started, the biggest obstacle being how much of the contract is guaranteed. The Cleveland Browns made waves last offseason when they traded for quarterback Deshaun Watson, then signed him to a record five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed deal. This gave him the most lucrative contract in NFL history in terms of guaranteed money. Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti voiced his displeasure with Watson’s deal last March saying: “I don’t know that he should’ve been the first guy to get a fully guaranteed contract. To me, that’s something that is groundbreaking, and it’ll make negotiations harder with others.”And, so far, it has.It was rumored that the Ravens offered Jackson a six-year $250 million deal in September with $133 million guaranteed. Jackson has expressed that he wants a deal similar to Watson’s, if not more, but the Ravens are hesitant to make a deal like that. The NFL Players Association recently filed a grievance against the league claiming collusion against players seeking fully guaranteed contracts. The NFLPA contends that owners agreed not to give out large-scale, fully guaranteed deals at an August meeting. Jackson’s negotiations with the Ravens may have inspired these claims, but it will be interesting to see whether he does get the type of deal that he wants. “Well, it certainly takes two to tango, but I think Lamar (Jackson) and I have a great relationship. I think we communicate quite often. We spent some time together today, as a matter of fact. We’ve spoken throughout the season multiple times. These negotiations, they all happen differently,” DeCosta said.There is little to no chance that Jackson does not receive a franchise tag. They will either tag him to keep him or set up a trade. If they do trade him, it would take a deal of at least two first-round picks to complete a deal.The Denver Broncos traded for quarterback Russell Wilson last offseason, and it cost them five draft picks (two first, two second and one fifth) and three players. The Ravens would expect a similar return for Jackson, if not better.If they decide not to trade him, they most likely would place the “exclusive” franchise tag on Jackson. This kind of tag means that Jackson cannot negotiate with other teams and would pay him around $45 million next season. The “non-exclusive” tag would pay him less but would open the window for a trade scenario.The franchise tag is not ideal for both sides of the deal. Jackson wants long-term stability and may not be willing to play another year without a long-term deal. Players in his situation usually hold out from training camp and even, in some cases, the regular season instead of playing on the tag.Benefits of making a dealThe Ravens organization has given out big contracts in the past. They made Joe Flacco the highest-paid NFL player following his Super Bowl run in 2012, signing him to a then-record six-year $120 million deal. Flacco has actually made the 14th most money ever from an NFL player at over $171 million for his career.If the Ravens do use the tag for Jackson, the cap hit would be the entire $45 million, which would be around 20% of the salary cap going toward one player. For comparison, only three teams used that much cap space on their quarterbacks: The Browns, the Dallas Cowboys and the Kansas City Chiefs. Only one of those teams is left in the playoffs this season. To avoid such a high percentage, the Ravens could sign Jackson to a long-term deal that allows them to spread the money out over the length of the contract. A solution that may appease both sides in this situation is signing Jackson to a shorter deal (three to four years) fully guaranteed, similar to the deal the Green Bay Packers gave Aaron Rodgers last offseason (three years, $150 million).A four-year $196 million deal would make Jackson the second highest-paid player by average salary ($49 million) and would be the second most guaranteed money behind Watson’s $230 million. Jackson may also be interested in this deal because it would potentially allow him to sign a second deal at the age of 30. PredictionThe Ravens will use the franchise tag on Jackson by the deadline so that he doesn’t hit free agency. Negotiations will most likely take months, and they have until July to get a deal done. Unless the Ravens get blown away by a trade proposal, then moving him to another team is unlikely. Teams rarely trade quarterbacks within their own conference, so reasonably, only NFC teams have a legit shot. In the end, it benefits both sides to come to a contract agreement, and Jackson will be in Baltimore for years to come. DeCosta knows if he hopes to have a long career here, getting this offseason right is of utmost importance. “I talked to Lamar (Jackson) today, as I said, and our focus right now is really to get a long-term deal done; that’s our singular focus at this point. It’s going to take some time, it’s going to take some effort, it’s going to take great communication — give and take — but I’m confident that we’ll be on the right path to get that done,” DeCosta said.
The Baltimore Ravens’ season ended in a disappointing loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. The Ravens managed to make the playoffs, but for the second season in a row, they did not finish with their starting quarterback, Lamar Jackson.
Now, with Jackson’s contract set to expire, the big question heading into the offseason is, “What do the Ravens do with Lamar?”
His contract status for next season could be the determining factor for the team’s success over the foreseeable future. There are two options for the Ravens: They can either keep him or trade him — both present issues for the front office. On one hand, they have a generational talent at quarterback, something that this franchise is not accustomed to. On the other, they only have five draft picks this season, and Jackson would draw a possible record number of picks in a trade scenario.
The pressure will be on Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta to figure out what direction the team will take in the future. He and head coach John Harbaugh will be tasked with figuring out what is best for the team.
“There’s no question about it, Lamar Jackson is our quarterback. He’s been our quarterback. Everything we’ve done in terms of building our offense and building our team — how we think in terms of (bringing in) people and putting people around him — is based on this incredible young man, his talent, his ability and his competitiveness,” Harbaugh said.
What is the best option?
The Ravens failed to come to terms with Jackson before the season started, the biggest obstacle being how much of the contract is guaranteed. The Cleveland Browns made waves last offseason when they traded for quarterback Deshaun Watson, then signed him to a record five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed deal. This gave him the most lucrative contract in NFL history in terms of guaranteed money.
Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti voiced his displeasure with Watson’s deal last March saying: “I don’t know that he should’ve been the first guy to get a fully guaranteed contract. To me, that’s something that is groundbreaking, and it’ll make negotiations harder with others.”
And, so far, it has.
It was rumored that the Ravens offered Jackson a six-year $250 million deal in September with $133 million guaranteed. Jackson has expressed that he wants a deal similar to Watson’s, if not more, but the Ravens are hesitant to make a deal like that.
The NFL Players Association recently filed a grievance against the league claiming collusion against players seeking fully guaranteed contracts. The NFLPA contends that owners agreed not to give out large-scale, fully guaranteed deals at an August meeting. Jackson’s negotiations with the Ravens may have inspired these claims, but it will be interesting to see whether he does get the type of deal that he wants.
“Well, it certainly takes two to tango, but I think Lamar (Jackson) and I have a great relationship. I think we communicate quite often. We spent some time together today, as a matter of fact. We’ve spoken throughout the season multiple times. These negotiations, they all happen differently,” DeCosta said.
There is little to no chance that Jackson does not receive a franchise tag. They will either tag him to keep him or set up a trade. If they do trade him, it would take a deal of at least two first-round picks to complete a deal.
The Denver Broncos traded for quarterback Russell Wilson last offseason, and it cost them five draft picks (two first, two second and one fifth) and three players. The Ravens would expect a similar return for Jackson, if not better.
If they decide not to trade him, they most likely would place the “exclusive” franchise tag on Jackson. This kind of tag means that Jackson cannot negotiate with other teams and would pay him around $45 million next season. The “non-exclusive” tag would pay him less but would open the window for a trade scenario.
The franchise tag is not ideal for both sides of the deal. Jackson wants long-term stability and may not be willing to play another year without a long-term deal. Players in his situation usually hold out from training camp and even, in some cases, the regular season instead of playing on the tag.
Benefits of making a deal
The Ravens organization has given out big contracts in the past. They made Joe Flacco the highest-paid NFL player following his Super Bowl run in 2012, signing him to a then-record six-year $120 million deal. Flacco has actually made the 14th most money ever from an NFL player at over $171 million for his career.
If the Ravens do use the tag for Jackson, the cap hit would be the entire $45 million, which would be around 20% of the salary cap going toward one player. For comparison, only three teams used that much cap space on their quarterbacks: The Browns, the Dallas Cowboys and the Kansas City Chiefs. Only one of those teams is left in the playoffs this season. To avoid such a high percentage, the Ravens could sign Jackson to a long-term deal that allows them to spread the money out over the length of the contract.
A solution that may appease both sides in this situation is signing Jackson to a shorter deal (three to four years) fully guaranteed, similar to the deal the Green Bay Packers gave Aaron Rodgers last offseason (three years, $150 million).
A four-year $196 million deal would make Jackson the second highest-paid player by average salary ($49 million) and would be the second most guaranteed money behind Watson’s $230 million. Jackson may also be interested in this deal because it would potentially allow him to sign a second deal at the age of 30.
Prediction
The Ravens will use the franchise tag on Jackson by the deadline so that he doesn’t hit free agency. Negotiations will most likely take months, and they have until July to get a deal done. Unless the Ravens get blown away by a trade proposal, then moving him to another team is unlikely.
Teams rarely trade quarterbacks within their own conference, so reasonably, only NFC teams have a legit shot. In the end, it benefits both sides to come to a contract agreement, and Jackson will be in Baltimore for years to come. DeCosta knows if he hopes to have a long career here, getting this offseason right is of utmost importance.
“I talked to Lamar (Jackson) today, as I said, and our focus right now is really to get a long-term deal done; that’s our singular focus at this point. It’s going to take some time, it’s going to take some effort, it’s going to take great communication — give and take — but I’m confident that we’ll be on the right path to get that done,” DeCosta said.
