While the Arizona Cardinals are in crisis after Kyler Murray‘s statement, the Baltimore Ravens are not sweating out Lamar Jackson‘s contract extension.
The team picked up the former league MVP’s fifth-year option worth $23,016,000, giving them one more season to discuss the quarterback’s next deal.
Likewise, the Ravens can engage Jackson in contract talks any time because he represents himself.
He doesn’t have an agent that juggles their time through multiple clients which put the negotiation process in hyper mode.
Once Jackson is ready, he and Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta will commence the talks.
Besides, there’s also some merit in waiting, as CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson tweeted.
Anderson said, “Lamar Jackson is wise to wait for certain contracts to get done that’ll set the actual market (ala Matthew Stafford, Aaron Rodgers), not the hypothetical market. No need to rush in early March. Baltimore also knew headed into last season that LJ was going to take his time.
She quoted a tweet from ESPN’s Jamison Hensley which contains a quote from DeCosta.
The general manager’s statement reads, “I think it takes two sides to actively put their heads together and get a deal worked out. We are ready to be there for Lamar at any point. When he decides that he really wants to work on it, we will be.”
Jackson may have other priorities for now, including his recovery from the ankle injury that sidelined him for the last four games of last year’s regular season.
Jackson Will Do His Research
Jackson will have leverage in the negotiations once he knows how the market is trending.
Luckily, Rodgers and Stafford may dictate that for him.
The reigning league MVP will reportedly return to the Green Bay Packers and he’s seeking a short-term deal that would pay him around $50 million annually.
On the other hand, Stafford is in the last year of the deal he signed with the Detroit Lions which the Los Angeles Rams absorbed when he got traded.
Winning Super Bowl LVI might also drive up his price tag
Both values will help dictate Jackson’s asking price.
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