Like Yankees superstar Aaron Judge, Lamar Jackson bet on himself rather than take the Ravens’ long-term contract offer.
Jackson, who will face the Jets in Sunday’s season opener at MetLife Stadium, turned down a five-year extension offer worth more than $250 million with $133 million guaranteed this week, reported ESPN.
Jackson, the 2019 NFL MVP, is set to earn $23 million on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract, with the extension reportedly beginning next season.
The average annual salary and guaranteed signing money would have topped deals struck this summer by star quarterbacks Kyler Murray with Arizona and Russell Wilson with Denver. But Jackson, 25, who represented himself in negotiations, sought a fully guaranteed deal like the one Deshaun Watson signed (worth $230 million) with Cleveland in June. The Ravens can still retain Jackson’s rights for 2023 by applying their franchise tag to the two-time Pro Bowler.
“Despite best efforts on both sides, we were unable to reach a contract extension with Lamar Jackson,” Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said in a statement Friday after negotiations were filed until the end of the season. “We greatly appreciate the way he handled this process and are delighted with our team with Lamar leading the way.
“We will continue to work on a long-term contract after the season, but for now we look forward to a successful 2022 campaign.”
Jackson has gone 37-12 as a starting quarterback for Baltimore since the middle of the 2018 season, but they’ve lost three of four postseason games in that span.