Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson on Saturday announced a deadline for the end of his contract negotiations: the team’s season-opening game.

“We’re coming up to it. It’s coming up,” Jackson said when asked about a hard deadline. “The season’s coming up. We’re going to be good for the season.”

When asked if he hoped contract talks would be completed by the season opener, Jackson said, “Yeah, for sure.”

Jackson, 25, didn’t provide any updates on the status of the negotiations, however. He is one of the few high-profile NFL players who does not have representation.

Jackson is entering his fifth-year option, which will pay him $23.016 million this season. Should the sides fail to reach an extension prior to the start of the season, the Ravens can still use their franchise tag on Jackson in the offseason.

“The business part of it’s the business part of it. I’m very confident that it will get done when it gets done,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “You can’t really rush it. I don’t think either side wants to rush anything; both sides want to be happy when it’s all said and done, and probably both sides unhappy when it’s all said and done, to some degree, right? That’s kind of how it works.

“But he’s doing a great job. He’s practicing well; he’s a great leader; on the sideline, he’s right into the game. So, everything, thumbs up.”

The quarterback market evolved over the course of the year, to the point where Arizona Cardinals star Kyler Murray received a five-year, $230.5 million extension last month with $160 million guaranteed.

Jackson had a combined 18 interceptions over his first three seasons before throwing 13 picks in 12 games during 2021. He had 16 touchdown passes last season, a steep decline from his 2019 MVP total of 36.

He had 767 rushing yards and two touchdowns last season after back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons.

The Ravens open the season on Sept. 11 against the host New York Jets.

–Field Level Media