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The Baltimore Ravens had offered their star quarterback, Lamar Jackson, a contract that includes a whopping $200 million in guaranteed money, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show.
"The deal that the Ravens offered Lamar Jackson was pretty strong..
$200M was the total guaranteed and the $133M was guaranteed on a shorter deal" @RapSheet #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/QJHJV3e97L
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 17, 2023
Jackson, who was given the non-exclusive franchise tag at the start of the 2023 offseason, has yet to sign a new contract with the Ravens.
While he is free to speak with other teams and sign an offer sheet, no team has been willing to take that chance thus far. This is due in part to the fact that any team that signs Jackson would have to give up two first-round draft picks as compensation, as well as the fear that the Ravens would simply match any contract offer.
This news comes on the heels of the Philadelphia Eagles signing their young quarterback, Jalen Hurts, to a massive 5-year, $255 million deal, with over $174 million guaranteed. With Hurts now the highest-paid quarterback in NFL history, many are wondering what this means for Jackson, who has already won an MVP award in the league.
According to reports, Jackson is seeking a contract that would include enough guarantees to surpass the $230 million fully guaranteed over 5 years that Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson received when he signed with the team in 2022. However, it appears that the Ravens are not willing to go that high.
The offer that the Ravens have put on the table for Jackson is certainly nothing to scoff at. Even with the lower guarantee, it would still make him one of the highest-paid players in the league. The fact that the Ravens are even willing to offer such a large sum of guaranteed money shows just how highly they value their star quarterback.
It remains to be seen whether Jackson will accept this offer or continue to hold out for more guarantees.