After the tumultuous (and downright uncanny) journey toward a satisfying contract deal between Baltimore Raven QB Lamar Jackson, and Raven’s higher-ups, the 26-year-old all-around player has signed an extension that makes him the highest-paid player in NFL history.
Last Thursday, Jackson and the Ravens agreed to a 5-year/$260 million dollar deal. The extension includes $185 million dollars guaranteed and an average annual salary of $52 million dollars. The contract lands him only second to QB Deshaun Watson’s historic deal in terms of guaranteed money.
Jackson put out a celebratory tweet to mark the occasion, saying, “You know, for the last few months, there’s been a lot of he’s said, she’s said, A lot of nail-biting, a lot of head scratching going on, but for the next five years, it’s a lot of flocks going on. Let’s go, baby. Let’s go. Let’s go, man. Can’t wait to get there. Can’t wait to be there. Can’t wait to light up M&T (Bank Stadium) for the next five years, man. Let’s get it.”
The contract woes go back years but seemed to start in earnest at the beginning of the 2022 season when Lamar Jackson turned down a contract extension offer. Speculation surrounded the details of the 2022 offer, although many believe Jackson alluded to the deal in a follow-up to quote tweeting a report from the NFL’s Adam Schefter citing a source that said Lamar turned down a $200 million dollar deal.
The follow up in particular seemed to suggest that the offer was actually $133 million dollars for 3 years.
The situation went from contentious to downright odd when the NFL contacted teams via email to warn them of a man by the name of Ken Francis, who was reportedly sending out emails to teams in an attempt to secure a deal on Jackson’s behalf. Ken Francis is actually a business partner of Jackson’s, for his home fitness brand; and denies ever emailing any teams about it.
Finally, a month ago, Jackson requested a trade, further pressuring the Raven’s office to move forward on a deal.
Notably, Jackson negotiated the deal without an agent, but his mother was instrumental in the process.
