Aug 27, 2022; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) talks on the sidelines with Nickelodeon correspondent George Johnston IV (not pictured) during the third quarter against the Washington Commanders at M&T Bank Stadium. Jessica Rapfogel-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN analyst picks Lamar Jackson for MVP: '(Jackson's) going to go absolutely on a fire blazing trail of the NFL this season'

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 9/8/22

There may be a "measure of pessimism " that a contract extension between the Baltimore Ravens and star quarterback Lamar Jackson will get done soon. Jackson himself said this week that Friday is the unofficial deadline for such an agreement to be made, but many don't think it'll impact how he plays this season.

On Tuesday, All-Pro tight end Mark Andrews said that he didn't feel that the issue would be a distraction. On Thursday morning, ESPN analyst and former quarterback Dan Orlovsky went a step further while discussing the situation on "First Take."

"Lamar [Jackson] is going to go absolutely on a fire blazing trail of the NFL this season. ... The Ravens are the team to beat in a conference that's absolutely loaded and he's going to win MVP."

—@danorlovsky7 pic.twitter.com/coAd4GoZBS
— First Take (@FirstTake) September 8, 2022

The Ravens open up their 2022 season with four straight games against AFC East squads and on paper, have what should be one of their easier matchups of the year in Week 1 against the New York Jets. Jackson has only faced the Jets once in his career -- during Week 15 of his 2019 MVP campaign -- and he went 15-for-23 for 212 passing yards and five touchdowns, while adding eight rushing attempts for 86 yards in a 42-21 victory.

Due to an ankle injury, the Louisville product played in a career-low 12 games last season. Jackson finished the year with 2,882 passing yards, 16 passing touchdowns and 13 interceptions, while adding 133 carries for 767 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

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