Longtime NFL agent sends fresh Lamar Jackson warning to Ravens after Baker Mayfield deal

A report from early September indicated that Baltimore Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson is comfortable with staying on his current contract, which prevents the Ravens from trading him without his permission or retaining his rights via the franchise tag after the 2027 season, through the 2026 campaign. 

Meanwhile, it was learned on Tuesday that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and starting signal-caller Baker Mayfield had agreed to a three-year extension reportedly worth $165M. For a Casino.org article published on Wednesday, NFL insider Jason La Canfora spoke with longtime agent Mike McCartney about Jackson's future. 

How much might Lamar Jackson want from Ravens to sign a deal this week?

"I think $70M is the number for Lamar," McCartney told La Canfora about how much salary Jackson may want attached to a contract extension after Mayfield received his deal. La Canfora added that the Ravens may need to offer Jackson "a three-year, $210M fully guaranteed deal before it is too late."

The "too late" line is a reference to the fact that, as ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and others have pointed out, Jackson's current deal carries an $84.3M salary-cap hit for 2027. While Jackson and the Ravens could work something out to lower that number before Baltimore's Week 1 game at the Indianapolis Colts this coming Sunday, there was no indication as of Wednesday afternoon that the two sides were close to inking an extension. 

If Jackson wants, the two-time regular-season Most Valuable Player Award winner could bet on himself and then look to reset the market for quarterbacks next offseason. As La Canfora mentioned, the structure of Jackson's current contract gives the signal-caller leverage over the Ravens regarding any ongoing talks.

Could a short-term fix help the Ravens keep Lamar Jackson beyond 2026?

"This remains the premier contract saga in the NFL, with Baltimore’s reluctance to proactively address the deal leaving rival executives and agents baffled," La Canfora added about the Jackson situation. "While the Ravens have historically rejected short-term, fully guaranteed deals, offering one now may be their only option before Week 1. At the start of the week, Mayfield and Tampa Bay were locked in a contract impasse that appeared destined to drag into the regular season. Then Tampa Bay adjusted its offer. While Mayfield’s figures will not satisfy Jackson, the contract structure just might."

If Jackson plays well under first-year Baltimore head coach Jesse Minter and first-year offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, the 29-year-old could become the big winner of this season as it pertains to signing a future contract. Then again, perhaps Ravens ownership will give Jackson whatever he wants to get him to ink a deal before the afternoon of Sept. 13 arrives.