The star quarterback’s refusal to enter into negotiations toward a contract extension has sparked rumors that he has his sights set on free agency, a version the 2019 NFL MVP has ruled out.
OWINGS MILLS — Lamar Jackson wants to put an end to all speculation that he is looking to leave the Baltimore Ravens.
Amid stalled negotiations over a long-term contract and uncertainty as to whether Jackson has his sights set on 2025 offseason free agency, the star quarterback posted Wednesday via social media that he loves Ravensciting it as a “false narrative” that he’s considering leaving the franchise he plays for.
“Stop trying to read my mind,” he wrote. Jackson in your post.
The post comes at a time when Jackson has not shown interest in resuming negotiations regarding a contractual extension with the Ravens.
Owner Steve Bisciottiand general manager Eric DeCostaof the Ravensboth have stated during the offseason that the team is committed to signing Jackson in the long term, but NFL Most Valuable Player in 2019 he has shown no urgency to talk about a new deal. deCosta indicated on March 2 that he had communicated with Jackson via text message once in the past month.
JacksonThe 25-year-old is about to enter the fifth year of his rookie deal, an option the team picked up that will pay him $23.016 million next season. If the parties fail to secure a contract extension before the next offseason begins, Baltimore would have to put the franchise tag on Jackson to prevent him from becoming an unrestricted free agent.
Bisciotti said on Tuesday that he does not see Jackson signing an extension before the start of the 2022 season, “unless I have a change of heart,” and described the decision to Jackson to hope as “unique as nothing”.
“We’ll pay you when you’re ready,” he said. Bisciotti.
Bisciottiwho has not spoken with Jackson about his contract, he wondered if Jackson would go the same way Kirk Cousinswho became the first quarterback in the history of the NFL to earn the franchise tag in consecutive years, before emigrating to sign with the Minnesota Vikings in free agency.
“And that gives me three years to win the Super Bowl so I can become a $60 million a year quarterback, because that’s where it’s going to be [el precio] in about four years,” said Bisciotti.
I love my Ravens I don’t know who the hell putting that false narrative out that I’m having thoughts about leaving stop tryna read my mind????
— Lamar Jackson (@Lj_era8) March 30, 2022
Bisciotti added later that Jackson “He’s a unique guy, and what are you going to do with a guy who wants to be unique?”
“You don’t try to convince him to be a conformist,” he said. Bisciotti. “We take him the way we take him. We appreciate him. All I know is his teammates love him and the board loves him. It’s like, ‘You’re still Lamarand we’ll make it work somehow.'”
The quarterback of the Buffalo Bills, Josh Allenwho was part of the draft litter of Jackson in 2018, he signed a six-year, $258 million extension last summer that averages $43 million per season and includes $100 million guaranteed.
The quarterback market has exploded ever since. Aaron Rodgers became the highest-paid quarterback this offseason, with a deal averaging $50 million per year, and Deshaun Watson set a record with his $230 million fully guaranteed deal.