Ravens Ex Orlando Brown Jr. Weighs in on 'Touchy' Lamar Jackson Situation

Despite moving on from the Baltimore Ravens, Orlando Brown Jr. is still protecting former teammate Lamar Jackson as his free agency saga continues.

Orlando Brown Jr. is familiar with what Lamar Jackson is going through ... from a certain point of view, at least.

Granted, Brown's free agency appeal paled in comparison to the relative firestorm surrounding Jackson's situation, one where his future with both the Baltimore Ravens and beyond remains uncertain despite an accomplished NFL resume. The offensive lineman, having recently inked a new deal with the Cincinnati Bengals, nonetheless came to Jackson's defense on a recent edition of ESPN's "NFL Live" this week. 

"At the end of the day, 8 is gonna put his jersey on, cleats on, and be one of the best players on the field."

Orlando Brown Jr. during NFL Live on his friend and former teammate Lamar Jackson's contract negotiations. pic.twitter.com/3Ld2NH72VJ

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) March 15, 2023

"It's interesting and honestly it's a little touchy just because he's a close friend," Brown, one of Jackson's first primary blockers, remarked on the ongoing transactional stand-off. "I want everything to work out really well for him. I understand why he wants a fully guaranteed contract. I understand why he deserves that as well."

Brown, a three-year Raven (2018-20) who played a major witness to Jackson's ascension to the top of Baltimore's franchise hierarchy, partly blamed the skyrocketing salaries for the league's quarterbacks as perhaps playing a role in the apparent reluctance behind Jackson's massive payday. 

With the Bengals offering him a massive new deal, Brown is a rare non-passing entrant among the NFL's highest-paid players: he now ranks sixth at $33.7 million next season, the only non-quarterback along with Washington defensive lineman Daron Payne in eighth. 

Ironically, the massive checks written through the league, Brown hints, could prevent the lauded, yet injury-prone Jackson from earning his own.

"Too often in the sports when we're dealing with quarterback numbers, they're so large that it's a lot of, I don't want to say unfamiliarity but it's different," he said. 

"It gets a little scary, it gets a little tricky, owners and all these different things get accounted for, it gets overthought. But, at the end of the day, (Jackson) is going to put his jersey on, put his cleats on, and be one of the best players on the field every single time he touches the field."

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Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

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