What Comes After 'Everything'? Inside Ravens New Lamar Jackson 'Leak'

A recent report has shed new light on the Baltimore Ravens' negotiations with quarterback Lamar Jackson. And we try to shed light on the report.

As the second week of free agency begins, it is looking increasingly likely that Lamar Jackson will play for the Baltimore Ravens on the franchise tag in 2023, despite receiving the non-exclusive version of tag that allows him to receive offer sheets from other teams.

So with a market that hasn't engaged with Jackson (despite other teams' rumors that won't go away), does that mean the Ravens have better odds of signing an extension? 

Maybe, but it hasn't happened yet despite Baltimore trying "everything," as reported by NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Our take? Rapoport is doing his job by reporting what Ravens sources are telling him. At the same time, Ravens sources - by attempting to create they impression that it is their side and their side only willing to be giving and creative - are busying themselves with currying public favor.

And Ravens sources should ask themselves whether another of these sort of orchestrated "leaks'' is going to help at all in actually securing a deal.

"The Baltimore Ravens have tried unbelievably hard to try to get Lamar Jackson to agree to a long-term or a short-term, non-guaranteed, or fully guaranteed contract over the last several years,'' Rapoport said. "It has not happened, ..."

Let's pick that apart.

*"Unbelievably hard''? That's unbelievably hyperbolic. We think Baltimore is at best "trying'' the same way 31 other teams "try'' to sign their important players.

*"Trying everything''? We bet Jackson's side has not tried one thing for sure, which is to pay him a fully guaranteed deal that would mirror the $230 million contract that Deshaun Watson received from the Cleveland Browns last offseason.

That would signify "everything.'' Oh, and it would likely end up with a signed agreement.

*"Fully guaranteed''? Yes, but according to Jackson himself, it was $133 million, fully guaranteed. And $133 mil isn't $230 mil.

The Ravens are not obliged to bend to Jackson and his desired deal. But the franchise would be better-served by this front office trying to get nearer the QB's side rather than putting so much effort into trying to get fans and the media to see its side.

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