Ravens exercise fifth-year option on star QB Lamar Jackson

It's been quite a past 24 hours for current and former NFL quarterbacks, such as the rumored return of Tim Tebow via the Jacksonville Jaguars and whatever may or may not be happening with Green Bay Packers quarterback and reigning Most Valuable Player Aaron Rodgers. 

Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens gave their fans a predictable development ahead of the weekend. 

Baltimore confirmed on Friday that it picked up the fifth-year option on quarterback Lamar Jackson. The 2019 regular-season MVP is now linked with the Ravens through at least the 2022 campaign and will make $23.016 million on the final year of that deal, Grant Gordon explained for the NFL's website. 

That figure could change, however, if Jackson and the Ravens come to terms on a contract extension this spring or summer. Critics would say there admittedly remain questions about Jackson's ability to lead his team to January victories, but his overall production as Baltimore's top offensive weapon over the past couple of years should cement his status as the starting QB for the better part of the decade. 

Back in early March, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta told reporters he was "confident and committed to try and get a long-term deal done" with his signal-caller "at some point in the near future." Such a deal could, however, become more expensive if Jackson has another stellar season playing on his rookie contract later this year.