Sources: Lamar Jackson Turned Down $250 Million Extension Offer From Baltimore Ravens, Wants Fully Guaranteed Deal At Signing

Sources: Lamar Jackson Turned Down $250 Million Extension Offer From Baltimore Ravens, Wants Fully Guaranteed Deal At Signing

Although Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens have kept details of his contract negotiations private, the star quarterback turned down a five-year extension offer worth more than $250 million with $133 million guaranteed at signing. sources told ESPN.

The extension, which ran through the 2027 season, would have increased the total value of Jackson’s contract to just under $274 million over six years, according to sources. Jackson would have played the $23 million fifth-year option on his rookie deal before the extension began in 2023.

The extension years in the Ravens’ proposal would have paid Jackson a higher average salary than the deals signed this summer by Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson and Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler. Murray, and also included more guaranteed money upon signing, according to sources.

RELATED

But sources told ESPN that the Ravens also balked at Jackson’s desire for a deal that was fully guaranteed at the time of signing, similar to Deshaun Watson’s, prompting the sides to announce Friday that they had postponed contract talks until after the 2022 season.

Wilson signed a $242.5 million contract earlier this month that averaged $48.5 million per year and included $161 million guaranteed, about six weeks after Murray received a $230.5 million contract that averaged $46 million per year and included $189.5 million guaranteed.

Catch all the Monday night NFL action throughout the season on ESPN Deportes and ESPN.

Monday, September 12 • Broncos at Seahawks, 8:15 pm ET

Monday, September 19• Titans at Bills, 7:15 pm ET• Vikings at Eagles, 8:30 pm ET

Subscribe now to ESPN+ to relive the best NFL games, original series and much more.

But the problem for Jackson was not so much the treatment of Wilson or Murray as it was that of Watson, according to sources. The Cleveland Browns signed Watson to a $230 million contract that was fully guaranteed at the time of signing. The Ravens’ offer of $133 million fully guaranteed at signing was more than Wilson’s ($124 million) and Murray’s ($103.3 million), but well below Watson’s.

Jackson acted as his own agent in the negotiations while relying on the help of his mother and the NFL Players Association, whose job it is to offer statistics, information and guidance and be a source of reference throughout the process.

The union informed Jackson, 25, that based on his performance and age, it was justified in demanding a fully guaranteed contract, the sources said.

Union sources framed the Ravens’ talks with Jackson as “good faith,” though the team included $2.5 million in annual de-escalation clauses if Jackson missed a high percentage of offseason workouts.

Jackson will earn $23.016 million on his fifth-year option, but he has no guaranteed money after this season. He hopes to get an extension after this season with the Ravens, who are expected to apply their franchise tag to Jackson and prevent him from reaching free agency if the sides still can’t reach a deal.

Jackson is making the biggest bet on himself in football, similar to what former Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, who starts against Baltimore on Sunday for the Jets, did in the 2012 season. was about to expire and led Baltimore to a Super Bowl title before becoming one of the highest-paid players in the NFL.

Jackson, who has taken more hits (737) than any other quarterback since 2018, was asked last week if he feels it’s a risk to play without guaranteed money beyond this season.

“It was a pretty big risk last season. The year before,” Jackson said Wednesday. “I’m just playing football. Anything can happen. God forbid anything bad happens.”

Jackson has proven to be one of the top playmakers and winners in the NFL over the last four seasons. Since becoming the Ravens’ starter midway through the 2018 season, Baltimore is 37-12 (.755) with him and 2-5 (.286) without him. He was the unanimous NFL MVP in 2019.

But Jackson is coming off his most challenging season in 2021, when he threw a career-low 13 interceptions and missed a career-high five games, including the last four due to an ankle injury.

ESPN’s Jamison Hensley contributed to this report.

READ MORE WAB NEWS

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

51 − 44 =