Ravens running out of time with Lamar Jackson: 'That's where this is heading'

Once again, the Baltimore Ravens have backed themselves into a corner with Lamar Jackson.

Failing to reach a new deal and pushing most of his money with a restructure only put them in an even tougher position.

Jackson's $84.5 million-plus cap hit for 2027 gives him all the leverage in this situation. The Ravens essentially have to give him what he wants, trade him or deal with the financial repercussions, or sit tight and watch him leave in free agency.

According to NFL insider Jason La Canfora, NFL agents, negotiators and executives believe Jackson will request a trade if they don't give him a new deal soon.

The clock is ticking for Lamar Jackson and the Ravens

"A trade demand would absolutely be on the table if I was advising Lamar," one agent told La Canfora. "I’m not coming in with it, but I’m coming in with a very firm hand, and I’m not putting up with any of their (expletive). And if it’s not done before training camp, we’re done talking."

The Ravens already went down this road with Jackson. He didn't cave and survived what some deemed leaguewide collusion to prevent him from getting more guaranteed money after Deshaun Watson's now-infamous contract.

However, with OTAs just around the corner and a massive cap hit looming large, the Ravens will ultimately have to make a decision before Jackson makes it for them:

"Kicking the can only gives Lamar more power … Lamar has them by the balls. If he doesn’t get what he wants now, he almost has to get it by March (given the $90M cap hit), or they will have to trade him. That’s where this is heading. It’s one of those two outcomes," another agent said, per La Canfora. 

Jackson is one of the best quarterbacks in the game, and with an unproven head coach and offensive coordinator in Baltimore, he might have more than enough reasons to take control of his fate and force his exit if he doesn't get the deal he wants.