A new report from ESPN has shed some light on what Lamar Jackson was apparently seeking from the Baltimore Ravens during contract negotiations last year.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Jamison Hensley, Jackson explicitly countered the Ravens’ offers by asking for fully guaranteed deals that the five-year, $230 million (totally guaranteed) contract Deshaun Watson got from the Cleveland Browns
“According to a source with knowledge of Jackson’s contract negotiations, all of his counteroffers to the Ravens last year were for fully guaranteed contracts that exceeded that of Watson, who signed his deal with the Browns after being traded from the Houston Texans and before serving an 11-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy by committing sexual assault, as defined by the league, on massage therapists,” Fowler and Hensley wrote.
It had previously been reported that Jackson turned down a five-year, $250 million offer from the Ravens, which included $133 million guaranteed. This new information has the NFL world talking.
“Lamar Jackson’s counteroffers to the Ravens have frequently been speculated, but this is the first report I’m aware of that clearly states he countered for more fully guaranteed money than Deshaun Watson,” said “Ravens Vault” co-host Sarah Ellison.
“I’ve decided that if Lamar gets traded I won’t blame Lamar, EDC or Steve Bisciotti,” one Ravens fan said. “I’m blaming the Cleveland Browns for giving Deshaun Watson that stupid contract. They f—-d the game up.”
“Tag and trade incoming,” added another Baltimore fan.
“This is going to take a while unfortunately but it’s a perfect chance to change the dynamic of contracts for future players so I understand it,” said The Daily Raven.
“I would be fine giving him more guaranteed on a longer deal, and just make it not fully guaranteed. Give him like $300m over 6 years or so and like $250m guaranteed,” added another Ravens diehard.
The Ravens have said publicly they are committed to Jackson and, at the very least, are expected to franchise tag him by March 7 in order to buy more time if a long-term deal isn’t agreed to by then.
Once tagged, Jackson could ultimately work out a contract to stay with Baltimore, or he could find himself traded to a QB-needy team.