Nov 27, 2022; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) looks on after losing to the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports
NFL: Baltimore Ravens at Jacksonville Jaguars
(New York, NY) — Have you ever seen a large public display of teams making sure you know they aren’t interested in a player? That is currently the headline surrounding free agent QB Lamar Jackson.
The Baltimore Ravens put a non-exclusive franchise tag on the 2019 MVP. Jackson is free to negotiate with any team for a long-term deal. Baltimore has the right to match any offer sheet or let Jackson go for two first-round picks.
This creates the perfect opportunity for Jackson and Baltimore to see what his true value is.
However, teams are not making their interest known, but rather making sure you know the opposite.
The Falcons, Dolphins, Panthers, Commanders, and Raiders all reportedly made it very clear they aren’t interested in Lamar Jackson. While some in league circles suspect there is colluding going on among owners, even that wouldn’t be a bad thing after all.
The Cleveland Browns put the NFL in a chokehold when they signed Deshaun Watson to a five-year, 230 million dollar fully guaranteed deal. That led Lamar Jackson to swing for the fences and stand firm on his demand for a similar contract.
But no team seems willing to not only give Jackson fully guaranteed money but give up two first-round picks in the process. This is less of wrongdoing by the owners of the NFL and more of an indictment on Jackson for unrealistic expectations and demands.
Precedent matters in the NFL. If a player who hasn’t been healthy the past two seasons can get that type of money, one can only imagine the deals that’d come for the likes of Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, and other young studs.
Lamar Jackson’s contract demands have more implications than just his future, but the future of teams looking to contend and other young quarterback players.
Owners do not want to be attached to the hip with players who aren’t guaranteed to be elite 100 percent of the time. In terms of Lamar, he isn’t worth the risk, or worth the money.
