Chris Mortensen Close NFL reporter ESPN Senior NFL Analyst He joined ESPN in 1991 George Polk Award Winner. Two-time Pulitzer Prize nominee Adam Schefter Close ESPN Senior Writer ESPN NFL Insider He joined ESPN in 2009 Past president of Pro Football Writers of America and author of four books
Although Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens have kept the details of their contract negotiations under wraps, the star turned down a five-year extension offer worth more than $250 million with $133 million guaranteed at signing, sources told ESPN. Close NFL reporter
ESPN Senior NFL Analyst He joined ESPN in 1991 George Polk Award Winner. Two-time Pulitzer Prize nominee
Close ESPN Senior Writer
ESPN NFL Insider He joined ESPN in 2009 Past president of Pro Football Writers of America and author of four books
The extension, which ran through the 2027 season, would have increased the total value of Jackson’s deal to just under $274 million over six years, according to sources. Jackson would have played the $23 million fifth-year option on his rookie deal before the 2023 extension kicks in. The extension years in the Ravens’ offer would give Jackson a higher average salary than the deals Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson and Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray signed this summer, and also included more money guaranteed at signing, according to sources. However, sources told ESPN that the Ravens also denied Jackson’s desire for a deal that would be fully guaranteed at signing, similar to Deshaun Watson’s, prompting the sides to announce on Friday that they had tabled contract discussions until after 2022 season. Wilson signed a $242.5 million deal earlier this month that averaged $48.5 million annually and included $161 million guaranteed, about six weeks after Murray received a $230.5 million deal that averaged term of $46 million per year and included $189.5 million guaranteed. 2 Related But the issue for Jackson wasn’t Wilson’s or Murray’s deal so much as Watson’s, sources said. The Browns signed Watson to a $230 million contract that was fully guaranteed at signing. The Ravens’ offer of $133 million fully guaranteed at signing was higher than Wilson ($124 million) and Murray ($103.3 million) but well short of Watson’s. Jackson acted as his own agent in the negotiations while relying on the help of his mother and the NFL Players Association, whose job it is to offer statistics, information and guidance and be a sounding board during the process. The union has informed Jackson, 25, that based on his performance and age, he is justified in demanding a fully guaranteed contract, sources said. Union sources characterized the Ravens’ talks with Jackson as “good faith,” though the team included $2.5 million in annual opt-out clauses if Jackson did not attend a high percentage of offseason workouts. Jackson will make $23.016 million in his fifth year, but is not guaranteed postseason money. He hopes to earn an extension after this season with the Ravens, who are expected to apply the franchise tag to Jackson and prevent him from reaching free agency if the sides still can’t come to an agreement. Jackson is making the biggest bet in football on himself, similar to what former Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco — who starts against Baltimore on Sunday for the Jets — made in the 2012 season. Flacco’s deal was due to expire and led Baltimore to a Super Bowl title before becoming one of the highest-paid players in the NFL. Jackson, who has more hits (737) than any other quarterback since 2018, was asked last week if he thinks it’s a risk to play without guaranteed money beyond this season. “He was a pretty big risk last season. The year before,” Jackson said Wednesday. “I’m just playing football. Anything can happen. God forbid the mistake happens.” Jackson has proven to be one of the NFL’s premier playmakers and scorers over the past four seasons. Since becoming the Ravens’ starter midway through the 2018 season, Baltimore is 37-12 (.755) with him and 2-5 (.286) without him. He was the unanimous MVP of the NFL in 2019. But Jackson is coming off his most challenging season in 2021, when he had a career-worst 13 interceptions and missed a career-high five games, including the last four with an ankle injury. ESPN’s Jamison Hensley contributed to this report.
