Lamar Jackson's future shouldn't be this complicated

The Ravens may have turned a molehill into a mountain. 

What should be a no-brainer -- extending Lamar Jackson to a long-term deal -- has turned into a standstill, with ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Jamison Hensley reporting there's a greater chance than ever that the former NFL MVP could be traded this offseason.

The ESPN report quotes a team source as saying, "A couple of months ago, I would have said no way [that a trade will happen] ... Now it feels like anything is possible."

Jackson and the Ravens failed to come to terms on a contract extension last offseason after Jackson requested a fully guaranteed contract that exceeded Deshaun Watson's five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed deal he agreed to with Cleveland.

ESPN's report quotes a high-ranking NFL executive as saying, "Just because the Browns were desperate doesn't mean that the Ravens are... They are a stable franchise." Where's the Bravo reality show on NFL executive drama? We're watching.

The Ravens wouldn't be desperate to agree to a fully guaranteed contract with Jackson as much as they'd be smart. 

He's a one-of-a-kind talent that is the kind of player a team should want trade for if given the chance. Unless, of course, it's the New Orleans Saints.

Jackson, 26, was named MVP after the 2019 season and is a proven winner. In five seasons, he's thrown for 12,209 yards, 101 touchdowns and 38 interceptions and added 727 rush attempts for 4,437 yards and 24 touchdowns. 

His 45 regular season wins as a starting QB are among the most in the NFL since 2018, trailing Patrick Mahomes (63), Tom Brady (55), Aaron Rodgers (53), Josh Allen (52) and Kirk Cousins (46).

If the Ravens don't want to pony up the money to keep him around, other teams should be lining up to put in offers.

The asking price -- multiple first-round picks as well as a fully guaranteed contract worth more than $230 million -- is a lot, but Jackson has demonstrated time and time again that he's one of the league's best quarterbacks and can propel a team to championship contention.

Baltimore, for its part, has given every indication it intends to work out a long-term deal with Jackson. 

Last month, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said, "Our focus right now is really to get a long-term deal done; that's our singular focus... It's going to take some ... but I'm confident that we'll be on the right path to get that done."

While Jackson hasn't squashed all his playoff demons, few can doubt he's the best option to lead the Ravens to a Super Bowl, both next season and beyond.

As the Colts, Patriots, and Saints have shown over the past few seasons, it's hard to replace a franchise QB. 

The Ravens already have an answer. By extending Jackson’s contract drama, they’re only creating a problem.