Ravens BREAKING: New Lamar Jackson 5-Year Contract With Baltimore is 'Done'!
Almost nothing in football is bigger than the NFL Draft, which launches tonight. But for the Baltimore Ravens, the key word is "almost'' - because the organization has now closed the deal on a new contract for QB Lamar Jackson.
It's "done,'' reports NFL Network as of 3:21 p.m. ET on Thursday. ... and that has now been confirmed by the club, an "agreement in principle'' on a five-year deal.
When Baltimore used the non-exclusive franchise tag on Jackson, setting him up for a by-the-rules - but under-market - salary of $32 million, the QB balked. Then followed rumors of "collusion'' and Jackson asking to be traded away from the team with which he won the 2019 NFL MVP award.
But now? As of an hour before the NFL Network item stating, "The Ravens are expected to announce their contract extension with Lamar Jackson, sources say - It's done'' - there was optimism about "progress ... "Baltimore may keep its star and Lamar should get paid,'' wrote NFL Network. And there had been “major progress” in talks between the two sides on a deal, Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reported. And there were "productive conversations,'' stated ESPN.
The quarterback will now be getting the long-term deal that he has fought to secure in Baltimore, and the Ravens will be able to put behind them any controversy and feelings of conflict. Some of the hang up was due to Jackson’s desire for a fully guaranteed deal, or something that came close to that contract that Deshaun Watson has with the Cleveland Browns. Certainly a compromise of sorts has been reached - credit both sides for that - and now all parties can move along to the next order of business.
The draft, and adding pieces around Lamar Jackson? Of course. But maybe also using draft capital to explore other adds, piling on to the signing of Odell Beckham Jr. with a conversation with Arizona about a DeAndre Hopkins trade, too?
Hey, the Baltimore Ravens are suddenly on a feel-good roll. Why not go for it?
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