Will Lamar Jackson stay with the Ravens beyond 2023? QB’s future uncertain amid contract negotiations

After failing to reach an agreement on a contract extension with the Baltimore Ravens, Lamar Jackson will enter the 2022 season without long-term security.

The team broke the news after months of negotiations with Jackson, during which it was regularly compelled to respond to questions about the talks. The Ravens released a statement before noon on Friday instead of reaching a final deal by Jackson’s deadline.

The statement from Raven’s general manager Eric DeCosta read, “Despite best efforts on both parties, we were unable to strike a contract extension with Lamar Jackson. We will continue to negotiate toward a long-term contract after the season, but for now, we are anticipating a good 2022 campaign. “We sincerely appreciate how he has handled this process and we are enthusiastic about our squad with Lamar leading the way.”

Jackson will remain in Baltimore for next season, according to Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, even though an agreement was not reached before the 2022 season.

Although I wasn’t directly involved in any back and forth, Harbaugh observed, “You’re hopeful.” “Those things will work themselves out in the end, I’m confident of that. I think I said at the beginning, that’ll happen when it’s time, and when it’s time, it’ll happen. Lamar’s playing quarterback, he’ll be playing quarterback here for a long time. He and I talked about it yesterday a little bit, like,” Hey man, let’s go be our best and go focus on football.

Jackson’s services for a significant chunk of the upcoming decade were something DeCosta stated a strong desire to secure during the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis back in early March. DeCosta told reporters, “He knows how to find me; I know how to find him,” suggesting that the two parties were still at odds in the early stages of discussions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJuDL07z4Kk

They eventually found each other, but not quickly enough to close a transaction.

With no security beyond 2022, Jackson enters the fifth and final year of his rookie contract, leaving himself vulnerable to a major injury that might lower his worth. Baltimore, on the other hand, is taking a chance by failing to sign the 2019 AP NFL MVP and letting him veer dangerously near to free agency.

And will Jackson take this up again at the conclusion of the 2022 campaign? Or are we on the verge of the unfathomable in 2023 when Jackson becomes a free agent?

Although the franchise tag would prohibit that, this is still an odd and intriguing scenario that isn’t likely to be resolved very soon. It would certainly be much simpler if we were to win the Lombardi Trophy.

 

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