The first round of the 2023 NFL Draft has concluded with the Carolina Panthers grasping Bryce Young as the No. 1 overall pick. Despite several reports, the Houston Texans also mitigated bad blood between them and David Mulugheta, drafting C.J. Stroud as the second pick. But Deshaun Watson’s influence was not limited to only C.J. Stroud, as one of his fellow competitors also received a delightful reward.
Leading up to the draft, the Ravens also pulled off a historical contract, and no it wasn’t for any trades but to retain their marquee quarterback Lamar Jackson. Despite months of back and forth, Lamar Jackson has finally been rewarded with a contact of his choice, and it’s nothing short of a movie script.
Lamar Jackson is ready to fly as a Raven
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The life and times of Lamar Jackson are nothing short of inspirational, the 26-year-old phenom has constantly pushed the boundaries of acceptance and often faced major setbacks along the way. Even before getting drafted, Lamar Jackson had a vision for the future, launching his own sportswear line, Era 8 Apparel. But ended up filing a lawsuit against Amazon for using his name, image, and persona without authorization.
The fateful night Jackson was drafted carried similar vibes, as Lamar along with his mother saw him slip to the 32nd overall pick. At the time, it was the Ravens that came to Jackson’s rescue, and five years down the line, Baltimore has stepped up for Jackson once again. And analysts and fans who have been tracking this saga recognize where he came from and what he did to get here.
Lamar Jackson signing a deal to give his family generational wealth, five years after he sat in the green room with his mom, watching the picks go by as he fell in the draft….hard not to get emotional. What a player. What a story. pic.twitter.com/C7olaL9bwy
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) April 27, 2023
The relationship between Jackson and the Ravens’ front office did sour to a certain degree, but in the end, things worked out. One of the many knocks on Jackson was the mere fact that he wanted more compensation than the Ravens offered him, but not many identified the superior sense of confidence and resilience Jackson showcased throughout those conversations.
Jackson’s constant support throughout all of this turmoil has been his mother. Even going back to the 2018 NFL Draft, Momma Jackson sat beside her son, showcasing pure class and elegance as Lamar waited for his name to be called. With Jackson bagging this humungous deal, his mother once again played the role of representing her son to perfection.
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Momma Jackson knocks it out of the park
Lamar Jackson’s choice of representation was constantly being questioned throughout his standoff with the Baltimore Ravens. But Jackson continued with his unwavering trust in the woman that bore him. Jackson trusting his mother did pay off as on Thursday, the Ravens offered him a five-year, $260 million deal, with $180 million in guarantees. The contract made Jackson the highest-paid QB in terms of average annual value, overtaking Jalen Hurts.
With many scrutinizing having his own mother as an agent, Jackson ended up saving a 3% agent fee cap, which amounts to $5.5 million at the minimum. With Momma Jackson at the helm, and the Ravens just acquiring Odell Beckham Jr. to their cause, Lamar Jackson seems to be on the right track to creating history, and the Ravens’ fanbase certainly has its fingers crossed.
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