Getty Image / G Fiume
Before the start of the NFL season, many were expecting to see Lamar Jackson get a huge contract extension.
It made plenty of sense.
He has already established himself as a top QB in the league. His contract was set to expire after this season. The Baltimore Ravens certainly wouldn’t want to mess around with the possibility of him entering free agency or franchise tagging him and risking him forcing a trade.
Still, that contract never came.
Early in the season, Jackson made that look like a terrible decision. Through the first 3 weeks of the season, Jackson was responsible for nearly 1000 total yards and 10 total touchdowns.
Then the injuries started. First it was his WR1, Rashod Bateman, who suffered a foot injury that eventually sent him to IR. Then Mark Andrews was hampered by injuries for a few weeks heading into the bye.
Now Jackson is dealing with a knee injury that has cost him multiple games and when he returns he also won’t have Devin Duvernay to throw to because of an injury.
With all of this going on, there is still the impending contract negotiation looming over the heads of Jackson and the Ravens front office.
Today, Sports Illustrated’s Todd karpovich reported that those trade negotiations could end with Jackson being traded to another team.
The impasse between Lamar Jackson and the @Ravens over a new contract has created all types of speculation.
One scenario is the Ravens trading the former NFL MVP for multiple first-round draft picks.#RavensFlockhttps://t.co/kWQ9VbJBXL— Todd Karpovich (@toddkarpovich) December 23, 2022
Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens are in a strange place right now. There were reports before the season that Jackson wanted a fully-guaranteed contract. The Ravens might not want to give that to him after he has dealt with injuries for a second consecutive season.
If the Ravens decide not to meet Lamar Jackson’s contract demands, there will be plenty of teams lining up to acquire the 5th-year quarterback.