How Hurts' extension could get ball rolling on Jackson deal

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

How Jalen Hurts' new contract could get ball rolling on Lamar Jackson extension

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 4/17/23

Jalen Hurts got a big new contract but Lamar Jackson could be the biggest winner of Hurts' groundbreaking deal.

Eagles and Jalen Hurts reached agreement on a five-year, $255 million extension, including $179.304 million guaranteed, per source.

Hurts becomes the highest-paid player in NFL history in a deal negotiated by Nicole Lynn of Klutch Sports Group and Eagles’ GM Howie Roseman. pic.twitter.com/DXG0ZWzsGJ
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 17, 2023

This contract will reportedly pay Hurts $51M per year, the highest in a single contract in NFL history.

In terms of guaranteed money, only Deshaun Watson ($230M) and Kyler Murray ($189.5M) received more in a single contract. https://t.co/25RseqkRKv
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 17, 2023

Jackson is in a contract dispute with Baltimore and if the Ravens are wise, they'll move to strike a deal quickly before other quarterback deals raise Jackson's price even further.

As The 33rd Team's Ari Meirov noted, when Jackson was first eligible for an extension, Patrick Mahomes had the highest per-year salary at $45 million.

When Lamar Jackson became eligible for a new deal, the highest paid QB in the NFL was Patrick Mahomes at $45M per year (on a 10-year extension) and then Dak Prescott at $40M.

The market is now at $51M per year. And it's only going up. pic.twitter.com/D5Fn4FgK9o
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) April 17, 2023

Jackson revealed last month that Baltimore's initial offer guaranteed $44.3 million per season over three years.

133/3years fully guaranteed but I need a agent? ‍♂️
— Lamar Jackson (@Lj_era8) March 14, 2023

The Hurts deal gives both Jackson and the Ravens a framework to look to as they try to get a deal done. Cleveland's fully guaranteed $230 million contract with Deshaun Watson ($46 million per season) remains an outlier and no one should anticipate it being replicated anytime soon.

Still, Jackson should expect to clear the $50-million-per-year mark with his new contract thanks to the Hurts deal, which would be roughly $6 million more per year than he would have received if agreed to that initial offer.

With Justin Herbert and Joe Burrow also eligible for extensions, the price tag for a franchise quarterback isn't decreasing. Hurts' contract recalibrates the market and should be the catalyst for the Ravens hammering out a deal with Jackson.

Otherwise, Baltimore will discover today's price isn't the same as tomorrow's.

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