Steelers insider makes bold prediction for Ravens QB Lamar Jackson

Yet another NFL insider has suggested that Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson could sit games out during the 2023-24 season while on the non-exclusive franchise tag. 

For a piece published Friday, Pittsburgh Steelers reporter Mark Kaboly of The Athletic predicted that Jackson "will stay out until he has to come in to accrue another season and thus making the franchise tag unusable next year." 

Added Kaboly, "I see this being a potential disaster for the Ravens if he holds out into the season and I am talking about more than just wins and losses."  

Earlier in the week, Kaboly's colleague at The Athletic, Mike Sando, explained that "players must report for at least six games to get credit for a season; otherwise, their contracts 'toll' and they move no closer to free agency."

Sando also noted that, in Kaboly's scenario, Baltimore could retain Jackson's rights for 2024 via the franchise tag "at 1.2 times his 2023 salary or at the as-yet-unknown value of the tag next year, whichever is greater." 

Sando believes Jackson will ultimately play for Baltimore on the $32.416M franchise tender for 2023, even if the two sides fail to come to a long-term agreement before the July 17 deadline for teams to sign tagged players. 

ESPN's Dan Orlovsky, NFL insider Jason La Canfora, NBC Sports' Peter King and Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio all previously floated the possibility that  Jackson could threaten to hold out through the start of the upcoming campaign. The former Louisville signal-caller is reportedly looking to earn more guaranteed money than the fully guaranteed $230M Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson received after being traded to the Browns. 

Jackson has been negotiating without a representative certified by the NFL Players Association, but has made it known that he requested a trade from the Ravens on March 2. The one-time NFL Most Valuable Player is eligible to speak with other clubs while on the non-exclusive tag, though it is thought that no team has yet met his asking price. 

On Friday, The Athletic's Jay Morrison seemed to criticize Jackson's decision to continue working without an agent. 

"He’s done everything wrong to this point," Morrison said regarding Jackson's choices this offseason. 

Meanwhile, the clock continues to tick. Ravens insider Jeff Zrebiec of the outlet mentioned that "it just feels like we’re headed to a situation where July 17...comes and goes without the Ravens and Jackson agreeing to a deal." 

Assuming Zrebiec and others are correct, Jackson would have to decide this summer just how much guaranteed money for 2023 he's willing to lose while betting on himself and his playing future.