Lamar Jackson has agreed 7 years contract extension at an average of $ 88.4bmillion a year….
One NFL executive refuted the idea that teams last summer were adamantly
opposed pursuing Lamar Jackson, the star of the Baltimore Ravens.
“The player piqued the interest of everybody,” the executive told Mike Sando
of The Athletic. “The package did not pique their curiosity. There’s nothing to
talk about, those franchises made it apparent, because he was so vocal about
seeking that guaranteed deal. The Ravens were unable to close a deal until
Baltimore persuaded him to accept the non-guaranteed contract.”
When some teams voluntarily withdrew from the running for Jackson last
spring, many supporters were taken aback. The 27-year-old’s MVP-caliber play
while aiding the Ravens in securing the No. 1 seed in the AFC has continued to
draw attention to his essentially nonexistent prior market.
The three-time Pro Bowler was given a non-exclusive tag by the Ravens, which
ensured they would receive two first-round draft picks back in the event he
joined with another team. Additionally, a potential suitor would have had to
present a contract offer that was high enough for Baltimore to turn down.
It seems a little bit of a cop out, though, to bring up Jackson’s rumored desire
to accept a completely guaranteed contract. In the end, he agreed to a more
conventional five-year deal worth $260 million, with $185 million guaranteed.
It doesn’t seem like anyone other than the Ravens had any serious talks with
him. When they saw his first request, they just stopped.
Jackson’s contract can get a little worse over time. He will have repaid the
team’s investment if he leads the Ravens to a Super Bowl victory.
