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Steelers DT Cam Heyward Defends Lamar Jackson

The Pittsburgh Steelers captain doesn't agree with the NFL.

Noah Strackbein

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PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward is having a hard time believing Lamar Jackson doesn't have a market for himself near what other quarterbacks have gotten in recent years. 

The NFL world has followed as Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens continue to try and work out a long-term deal. But with the quarterback wanting a fully-guaranteed deal, the two sides have not met on terms of a contract, and so, Baltimore placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on him.

Now, teams are eligible to negotiate with Jackson and send an offer sheet on an agreed-upon deal to the Ravens. If they do not match the offer, Jackson's new team will send two first-round pick to Baltimore. 

And almost instantly, teams across the NFL reportedly came out and said they will not pursue Jackson. 

Well, Heyward doesn't see how. On the recent episode of his podcast Not Just Football, the Steelers captain said Jackson is getting the "short end of the deal."

"Lamar has been in a situation where he's seen the market of what his potential is. And so many people have criticized him and chastised him for not taking the deal, and not agreeing to their terms. He knows what he wants. They should be respecting that, because with every other quarterback, that's what's happened."

Jackson has until July 15 to sign his franchise tag if he isn't given a long-term deal before then. If he doesn't sign the tag, he will sit out the 2023 season. 

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Noah Strackbein
NOAH STRACKBEIN

Noah is the Publisher for All Steelers, Inside the Panthers (InsideThePanthers.com) and Inside the Penguins (InsidethePenguins.com), and is the host of All Steelers Talk (YouTube.com/AllSteelersTalk). A Scranton native, Noah made his way to the Pittsburgh sports scene in 2017. Now, he's pretty much full-yinzer.

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