Lamar Jackson vs. Ravens: Trigger Tension Between NFL Owners & Players?

Lamar Jackson's contract impasse with the Ravens is shaping up to have a major impact on other NFL contracts and the players are not happy.

Todd Karpovich | Mar 10, 2023

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Baltimore Ravens

When Deshaun Watson signed a contract with the Cleveland Browns that included $230 million in guaranteed money, it was supposed to revolutionize future deals.

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was hoping to capitalize on that potential brave new world.

Instead, the Ravens took back control of the contract negotiations by placing the $32.41 million non-exclusive franchise tag on Jackson.

Jackson now is allowed to negotiate with other teams, and the Ravens are ready to take that gamble.

Even if an opposing team makes an offer to Jackson, the Ravens have the right to match that proposed deal or they can obtain two first-round picks in return.

It appears the rest of the NFL’s owners agree that Cleveland’s deal with Watson was fiscally irresponsible. The guaranteed money is problematic and teams want to spread the money around to add more playmakers to their teams.

“Damn, I wish they hadn’t guaranteed the whole contract,” Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti told reporters at the NFL league meetings last March. “I don’t know that he should’ve been the first guy to get a fully guaranteed contract. To me, that’s something that is groundbreaking, and it’ll make negotiations harder with others.”

Franchises don’t want most of their money wrapped up in one player because that makes it difficult to win a championship.

Super Bowl contenders usually have a balance on both sides of the ball.

Of course, this has the players complaining about collusion and this acrimony with the owners could turn litigious.

As for Jackson, several teams told sources they won’t pursue him.

That remains to be seen.

A 26-year-old former MVP is enticing to most NFL teams.

The question is whether they will offer more than $250 million in guaranteed money.

The Ravens bet against those odds.

Either way, there are more fractures in the relationship between the players and owners because of this situation.

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Published Mar 10, 2023

TODD KARPOVICH

Twitter: @toddkarpovich Email: todd.karpovich@gmail.com Skype: todd.karpovich Todd Karpovich has been a contributor for ESPN, Forbes, the Associated Press, Lindy's, and The Baltimore Sun, among other media outlets nationwide. He is the co-author of “If These Walls Could Talk: Stories from the Baltimore Ravens Sideline, Locker Room, and Press Box,” “Skipper Supreme: Buck Showalter and the Baltimore Orioles,” and the author of “Manchester United (Europe's Best Soccer Clubs).” Karpovich, a Baltimore native, is a graduate of Calvert Hall College high school, Randolph-Macon College in Virginia, and has a Masters of Science from Towson University.