Amid Burning Fire in New York and Las Vegas, $260 Million Lamar Jackson Gets a $3.1 Million Weapon Locked and Loaded

The running backs in this year’s NFL market are facing challenging times. The league’s landscape has evolved, shifting away from the traditional “three yards and a cloud of dust” style. Instead, it now revolves around explosive offenses, with a strong emphasis on pass-first, quarterback-driven strategies. This transformation has affected two prominent stars in the position.

Saquon Barkley of the New York Giants and Josh Jacobs of the Las Vegas Raiders are expressing dissatisfaction with recent developments. While these linebackers struggle to secure long-term contracts, there’s good news for another linebacker who recently joined Lamar Jackson‘s forces, with a deal worth $3.1 million. Despite the presence of J.K. Dobbins as the top player in the depth chart and other standout weapons in the Lamar Jackson-led offense, this new addition brings the experience of veterans past their prime.

One addition in the veteran slot for the Ravens!

The Baltimore Ravens recently signed veteran running back Melvin Gordon to a one-year deal reportedly worth up to $3.1 million. Gordon brings experience and an impressive rushing record to the team. Melvin Gordon’s football journey has been marked by his time with the Broncos from 2020 to 2021 before finding himself on the Chiefs practice squad during their Super Bowl run. As he joins the Ravens, the expectations are high, given his impressive track record in the league.

Gordon’s stellar career as a first-round NFL Draft pick since 2015 includes over 1,500 rushing attempts, 6,462 yards, and 55 rushing touchdowns. His addition aligns with the Ravens’ plan to diversify their playing style, prioritizing both running and passing. While the team has been known for its powerful running game, they aim to enhance their aerial assault under the guidance of their new coordinator, Todd Monken, and the leadership of the NFL draft star of this season, $260 million Lamar Jackson. However, while it was an eventful day yesterday for Gordon, some linebackers are still waiting for their contract extensions.

No new contracts for these linebackers

The running back situation in the NFL has taken an intriguing turn as the franchise-tagged players, Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, and Cowboys’ Tony Pollard, faced a crucial deadline. Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, none of them were able to secure long-term contracts before the Monday cutoff.

Two of the league’s biggest stars, Barkley and Jacobs, were particularly entangled in contract standoffs with their respective organizations. Both players had been tagged with the $10.1 million franchise tag during the offseason and had been holding out of various team activities, including OTAs and mandatory minicamps, as negotiations for multi-year contracts were underway.

Read more: Broncos’ Melvin Gordon Demands More Respect, Tired of Being ‘Overlooked’

With the deadline passed and no long-term agreements in place, the Giants and Raiders now hold significant leverage over these players.

Watch this story: Four Life Lessons by $260M Lamar Jackson Sheds Light of Kindness in a Dark World