With the franchise tag window open, the countdown is on to see how the Ravens and quarterback Lamar Jackson are going to approach the impending deadline. Their current situation is the result of longstanding contract negotiations reaching a well-established impasse. 
Guaranteed money has long been reported as the sticking point between Baltimore’s front office and the 26-year-old, who does not have an agent. The Ravens’ top offer from last offseason included $133MM in guaranteed money, which would have ranked second in the league behind only the historic deal signed by Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. Jackson, meanwhile, has repeatedly attempted to use that $230MM contract as the market value for his next pact.
Adding further to that notion, a detailed report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Jamison Hensley states that each counteroffer Jackson has made to the Ravens so far were fully guaranteed contracts which “exceeded that of Watson.” The latter was given his massive accord after sitting out the 2021 season in Houston, and being the subject of a bidding war between several teams before the Browns gave the Texans a package including three first-round picks to acquire him. Other QB extensions around the league since then have pointed to the Watson deal being an outlier, rather than the new norm.
That has left the two parties in a standoff, and the assumption that a franchise tag will either extend the negotiating period into the summer or, perhaps, open up the possibility of a tag-and-trade. Much will be determined by whether or not the Ravens use the exclusive or non-exclusive tag, given the differences in not only value but the involvement other teams could have in influencing negotiations. A decision on that front will need to be made no later than March 7.
Among the other key takeaways from the ESPN piece is the fact that it includes further team sources expressing their surprise that Jackson missed the Ravens’ wild card loss to the Bengals. The former MVP’s knee sprain cost him time to close out the regular season as well, and he drew criticism from inside and outside the organization for his absence. That, coupled with his statistical outputs since the 2019 campaign, have clouded his future.
The hire of Todd Monken as offensive coordinator has led to the expectation the Ravens will throw the ball more than they did under Greg Roman. The former Buccaneers and Browns OC has made clear his intention of developing Jackson more as a passer, something which would no doubt lead to improved performances individually and for the team, should he find himself in Charm City in 2023.
Confirming what many have believed regarding contract talks, ESPN’s Dianna Russini tweets that Jackson is receiving guidance on this matter from the NFLPA. While that does not represent a direct replacement for an agent, it allows the two-time Pro Bowler to have support while negotiating the league’s next mega-deal. Something significant will likely need to take place for traction to be gained, though, regarding a contract being finalized any time soon.