Ravens QB Lamar Jackson Expects to Ink a New Deal Before the Training Camp, Doesn’t Have Hold Out on His Mind

The main controversy surrounding the Ravens this offseason has been the status of Jackson’s contract. The rookie deal’s fifth-year option is set to pay Lamar Jackson a little over $23MM in 2022, but given the competitive quarterback market and the cost of a franchise tag in 2023 (approximately $35MM), Baltimore may want to negotiate a long-term contract as soon as possible.

According to the club, Jackson’s absence at the negotiation table prevented a deal from being reached or at least brought closer to completion. Lamar Jackson, the quarterback for the Ravens, has changed his stance in recent weeks, going from ostensibly not wanting a long-term contract with the Ravens to ostensibly wanting one immediately.

Safid Deen of USA Today “Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson says the reason his social media accounts feature a photo that reads “I Need $” is because he loves the movie it came from. It’s not, he says, a message to the Ravens regarding his ongoing contract negotiations before the 2022 season.”

This past weekend, Jackson generated buzz on social media after switching the header image on his Twitter account and Instagram profile to a photograph that would suggest otherwise. On Saturday, the subject of Jackson wanting to sign his second NFL contract before the start of training camp came up.

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Lamar Jackson doesn’t want to hold out, waiting for a contract extension

“Hopefully,” Jackson told Safid Deen of USA Today.

“I’m not going to say ‘yeah’ right now,” Jackson told Deen. “Hopefully. But it’s God’s timing.”

“I don’t have that on my mind,” Jackson said, regarding a holdout from training camp.

Jackson could be able to negotiate a contract worth at least $35–40 million per year and at least $150 million overall. Three NFL quarterbacks have contracts worth more than $200 million, while seven earn at least $40 million yearly. Jackson was courted for months by the Ravens. They appear to possess it.

It will be interesting to see whether they can agree on a new deal. 2019 saw Jackson win the league MVP award. The market has grown tremendously since then. Overall, Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson’s five-year, $46 million contract with a full guarantee is the finest one available. For Jackson, it ought to be his starting point. The Ravens could decide against making it their final destination.