REPORTS: $40 Million Not Enough to Keep Lamar Jackson at Baltimore Ravens as Contract Talks Continue

Lamar Jackson and his situation with the Baltimore Ravens is not nearing resolution as fans might have expected. The situation looks more like who will budge first rather than if it would happen. Jackson has been representing himself through all the contract negotiations with Ravens GM Eric DeCosta. Both parties are playing a close and painful waiting game with fans, the only ones who will be suffering.

According to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, Jackson will be looking to eclipse Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott‘s wage figures. Prescott did sign a four-year, $160 million deal with Dallas last offseason. But anything above these figures would place Jackson within the top three earners at the QB position. The Ravens have every intention of keeping hold of their QB. They would be looking to wrap it up before free agency in March.

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Jackson and the numbers he will be negotiating with Baltimore will mean his earnings could be more than $40 Million annually. The Ravens can also franchise tag the player and go on a year-to-year contract procedure with him. It serves a dual purpose for the franchise, which can assess further the value of Jackson for them.

Do Lamar Jackson contract numbers make sense for Baltimore?

Jackson did miss the 2021 season after a serious ankle injury. The QB has also been on the receiving end of more QB hits than any other in his position. But on the other hand, Jackson has been a big reason for their success according to their 37-12 win-loss record with him. But his enormous extension of wages could impact how Ravens would build a team around him every season.

The team salary cap will take a massive hit on the money he is searching and holding out. Also, Jackson’s rookie contract with Baltimore ends only in 2022, which means next season would be crucial if not this year. The team currently is in the middle of the pack in cap space in the league. They could benefit from him signing a long-term contract on decent figures.

But DeCosta cleared that the team is comfortable carrying his $23 million cap-hit if no extension gets finalized. Franchise tagging players hurts teams in the long run and is a real possibility as this drags on. There is a great relationship between GM DeCosta and Jackson. It will be crucial to keep him happy and avoid confrontations, and the Ravens will be looking to seal the deal.

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