By Jeff Zrebiec, Josh Kendall, Joseph Person, and Larry Holder
The Baltimore Ravens will put the franchise tag on quarterback Lamar Jackson, the team announced Tuesday. Here’s what you need to know:
- Jackson will count $32.4 million toward the Ravens’ 2023 salary cap with the nonexclusive tag if he signs the tender or isn’t awarded a long-term contract.
- The non-exclusive tag allows Jackson to negotiate with other teams. If he agrees to a deal with a new team, the Ravens can adjust or reject it and receive two first-round draft picks as compensation.
- The Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers will not be involved in the Jackson contract situation, multiple sources confirmed to The Athletic.
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backstory
Ravens coach John Harbaugh said during a press conference in mid-January, “Lamar Jackson is our quarterback,” even though Jackson is a pending free agent.
During the same press conference, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said, “Our relationship with Lamar is fantastic.” DeCosta also acknowledged that negotiating with Jackson presents a challenge.
“I told Lamar this thing was a drain on both of us, but when it’s over we’re going to feel like a million bucks,” he said.
DeCosta added that he “strongly believes Jackson wants to stay with the Ravens his entire career.” The Baltimore GM said the team’s only focus is a long-term extension with Jackson and he was not interested in discussing a trade with him. Both Harbaugh and DeCosta reiterated their beliefs in wanting Jackson long-term during the NFL Scouting Combine.
Jackson, 26, finalized his rookie contract after the 2022 season. The 2019 NFL MVP played in 12 games in 2022 with 2,242 passing yards, 17 passing touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also rushed for 764 yards and three TDs.
The 2018 first-round pick has only played 12 games in each of the last two seasons.
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The Athletic’s instant analysis:
Baltimore is taking a big risk here
The Ravens are taking an awfully big risk that a quarterback-needy team won’t give Jackson the kind of deal he was looking for, which is believed to be close to the five-year, fully guaranteed, $230 million contract that Deshaun Watson got from the last offseason Brown’s got. The Ravens could theoretically be determined to keep up with any offer hand Jackson gets, but teams could certainly make it difficult how to structure the deal so Baltimore permanently caps it to absorb it. — Zrebiec
The ball is now in Jackson’s hands
Negotiations between the Ravens and Jackson, who has no agent, were a grind. DeCosta chose his words carefully so as not to inflame the already delicate negotiations, but he described the talks as a “burden” and brought up the fact that there must be give and take on both sides. It’s clear the Ravens have lost confidence in their ability to close this deal. It’s now up to Jackson to get the deal he’s looking for and force the Ravens’ hands. — Zrebiec
Why the Falcons won’t go after Jackson
News that the Falcons won’t be involved drew a decidedly negative reaction from the team’s most vocal segment of the online fanbase Tuesday afternoon, but the move never made much sense based on what we know about general manager Terry Fontenot and Coach Arthur Smith.
Since taking charge two years ago, this duo has taken the team from salary-capped jail to the second-biggest money in the league, but they’ve made some tough decisions and a 14-20 record to get there. Leaving the fate of the franchise largely in the hands of a player’s health and luck always felt like a bridge too long for the Falcons. That being said, this was the team that was in pursuit of Deshaun Watson up until his final days in the final off-season. Perhaps the team’s early exit from this situation is a sign that lessons have been learned. Or maybe it’s an indicator of the Falcons’ trust in Desmond Ridder. – Kendall
Jackson’s disturbing advanced metrics
Jackson can still be one of the most electrifying players in the NFL. But you also can’t ignore the fact that parts of his game have fallen off since his 2019 MVP season. Below is an annual look at his passer rating and expected points added per dropback via TruMedia:
| Year | EPA/db | pass rtg |
|---|---|---|
2019 | 0.34 (1) | 113.3 (3) |
2020 | 0.09 (14) | 99.3 (11) |
2021 | 0.04 (16) | 87.0 (23) |
2022 | -0.01 (21) | 91.1 (17) |
Did Jackson’s injuries cause those numbers to drop? Or has there been a relapse? Regardless, the Ravens’ leadership has publicly said on numerous occasions that they want Jackson long-term. — Holder
What you say
“There have been many instances throughout the league and in Baltimore where a player has been awarded the franchise tag and signed a long-term contract in the same year,” DeCosta said in a statement. “We will continue to negotiate in good faith with Lamar and hope that we can reach a long-term agreement that is fair to both Lamar and the Ravens. Our ultimate goal is to build a championship team that Lamar Jackson will lead for many years to come.”
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(Photo: Tommy Gilligan / USA Today)