BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – OCTOBER 17: Quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates a touchdown scored by Le’Veon Bell #17 during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at M&T Bank Stadium on October 17, 2021 in Baltimore, Maryland. NFL rumors (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
NFL free agency has officially begun, but plenty of big names remain as the legal tampering period enters its adolescence.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson remains available, but at least five if not more NFL teams are said to be uninterested in his services. The reasoning behind that is questionable at best given some of the contract currently being handed out to lesser players at the position, but perhaps it’s because Jackson would be too expensive.
As important as the QB position is — a Super Bowl team needs a very capable one to raise the Lombardi Trophy — an offensive line, defensive line and skill position players aren’t cheap at this juncture. Jackson is great, but he cannot win on his own. No one can.
NFL insider Adam Schefter dropped some potential contract details for Jackson and it’s…a lot of guaranteed money.
Adam Schefter gives the most details yet on Ravens’ offer to Lamar Jackson last yr:
Fully gtd at signing: $133M
Injury gtd: $175M
Total gtd: $200M
“Those guarantees were way more than what Kyler Murray got from AZ. Way more than Russell Wilson.”pic.twitter.com/FYpo4GiJFs
— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) March 13, 2023
NFL rumors: Lamar Jackson’s asking price is too much for some teams
It’s absolutely fair to think Jackson is getting screwed over by a quarterback market that has far exceeded the comfort of NFL team executives. It’s not his fault — you can blame the Browns and Deshaun Watson for that one.
Giving Jackson that kind of money is a recipe for failure. Sure, any team is entertaining with Jackson as their starting quarterback. He’s an All-Pro passer, and has improved in that department alone. He’s one of the most electric signal-callers of any generation, not just his own.
BUT, you don’t win that way. There’s a reason general managers covet players on rookie contracts. Jackson has aged out of his, and now wants his payday. He’ll get it, one way or another, it’s just more likely to be with the Ravens than any other team.
