Lamar Jackson can sign a new deal with the Baltimore Ravens this summer. Both parties are emphatically optimistic – but the negotiations could pose some unusual challenges.
In terms of sport, the team is one of the closest contenders, in 2019 the Ravens won the most games in the league, and in 2020 Baltimore moved into the Divisional Round.
In addition, the team addressed its greatest weakness in the spring: Missing weapons in the passing game. With Sammy Watkins, Rashod Bateman and Tylan Wallace Jackson got three new receivers at his side. With the newcomers, the Ravens want to attack again in the coming season.
But this year’s offseason is also a particularly important one for Jackson and his franchise in other ways.
Starting this summer, the quarterback can sign an early extension of his rookie contract. Given his performance over the past two years, it’s clear that the Ravens are dying to keep their superstar. But the framework conditions are unusual, especially for a contract of the size to be expected here.
NFL: Lamar Jackson doesn’t have an agent
“Lamar and I had discussions about it,” said General Manager Eric DeCosta. “I think it’s important to us and important to him. But Lamar is a very patient guy.” “I would love to be here forever,” says Jackson himself. “I love Baltimore, I love the entire organization.”
The quarterback has not exerted any pressure so far: “I don’t want to lie: I’m not concentrating on that,” said Jackson. “I’m focused on winning a Super Bowl.” “Lamar knows what’s important,” believes Head Coach John Harbaugh. “Look what he’s achieved so far: he’ll get paid and he knows that.” The contract extension with Jackson is no more than “a formality”.
However, the negotiations between the two parties should not take place quite as loosely as those responsible have portrayed in public. Jackson is one of the best young quarterbacks in the league. His contract will be one of the most expensive in NFL history, that much is clear.
Another circumstance gives the negotiations a very special character: Jackson has no advisor. He conducts his contract talks himself, together with his mother.
Lamar Jackson: A new experience for the Ravens too
Even before the 2018 draft, some teams observed Jackson’s independent demeanor with raised eyebrows. The scope of the decision is now much greater than it was three years ago, after all, players have little room for maneuver when negotiating their rookie contract.
“He’s under a lot of pressure, the negotiations are incredibly complicated”, believes NFL Network-Insider Ian Rapoport. “There’s so much at stake because if you get a bad deal it could cost you $ 10 million or more. It’s already happened.”
But even beyond the purely financial component, Jackson’s independence could lead to some unusual dynamics. For media inquiries regarding the contract, players usually refer to their advisor so that they can concentrate on the sporting side. Jackson can’t.
In addition, negotiating under these circumstances is a new experience for the team as well. For example, should the Ravens refer to Jackson’s weaknesses as pocket passer, as they would presumably do in negotiations with an advisor? Or would they offend their superstar with it?
And: Can you take advantage of Jackson’s lack of experience in negotiations? An unusual and complicated contract structure could potentially result in financial benefits for the team. At the same time, however, the franchise would also expose its most important player and put a strain on the relationship with him. Is it worth it?
Lamar Jackson: One of the largest contracts in NFL history
Jackson isn’t the first player in NFL history to negotiate his contract without an official advisor. DeAndre Hopkins, Bobby Wagner, Richard Sherman and Laremy Tunsil struck out respectable contracts for themselves even without an adviser – albeit with financial advisors that Jackson may also do without.
Russell Okung, on the other hand, miscalculated in his negotiations in 2016. After just a year and $ 8 million earned, the Broncos released him from his five-year contract for up to $ 53 million.
It is clear, however, that these players cannot be compared directly to Jackson. Quarterbacks are by far the most important players in the NFL, so they get paid accordingly. Jackson could earn double that of players like Sherman, Wagner or Hopkins if he signed a contract. The height of fall is therefore significantly higher for him.
In order to estimate the size of Jackson’s contract, one has to look at the recent contracts of other young top quarterbacks. Patrick Mahomes signed the largest deal in the history of the sport, earning $ 450 million over a decade. Dak Prescott’s new contract pays him $ 160 million over four years and Deshaun Watson’s $ 156 million over four years.
It is practically certain that Jackson will trump Prescott and Watson’s numbers. Jackson wasn’t voted MVP until last year. An award that Prescott and Watson have never been able to earn.
Lamar Jackson: no contract like Patrick Mahomes?
And Mahomes? The 25-year-old is currently the biggest superstar and probably the best player in the NFL. It is unlikely that Jackson will be able to win a contract of a similar magnitude. But not as impossible.
Mahomes’ contract was an anomaly not only financially, but also structurally. Usually quarterbacks prefer shorter contracts in order to be able to benefit multiple times from the increase in the salary cap. Most recently, practically all quarterbacks except Mahomes signed contracts for four new years.
Some critics also advise against being tied to Jackson for too long. The playing style of the 24-year-old is considered injury-prone and less consistent anyway – even though quarterbacks like Watson or Russell Wilson have suffered significantly more hard hits than Jackson in recent years.
The Eagles and the Rams recently fell on their noses with their early contract extensions from Carson Wentz and Jared Goff, so caution is definitely required.
Will Lamar Jackson let Josh Allen go first?
Could Jackson himself be out for the longest possible contract to cover himself in the event of an injury? So far, no details of the negotiations between Jackson and the Ravens are known.
In any case, the 24-year-old could benefit from having to wait a little longer before signing a contract. Josh Allen and Baker Mayfield, two more young quarterbacks from his draft class, will be able to sign new contracts this summer.
Jackson could wait until, for example, Allen renews in order to top his deal. Just like, for example, teammate Marlon Humphrey did with Tre’Davious White last summer.
But even then, the balancing act between Lamar Jackson the quarterback and Lamar Jackson the advisor is a tightrope act – for both sides. Not an easy situation given the size of the contract and the associated potential risk.
At least in public, Jackson wasted no thought on such strategies. “If I’m being honest, I just focus on the season. I just focus on winning,” says Jackson. “I don’t really care if we can do it this year or next. We’ll see.”
– .
