Lamar Jackson ought to, in idea, be having fun with an ample marketplace for his companies. As a 26-year-old MVP quarterback, the Ravens star is exactly the form of long-term playmaker NFL groups are fast to compensate — if not wildly overpay — supplied they get the possibility. But Jackson’s 2023 free company has been a dud. Even with Baltimore utilizing the non-exclusive franchise tag, which allows all 31 different groups to barter with the Pro Bowler, the QB stays unsigned and, to an extent, undesirable.
The Ravens, in fact, can be glad to have him again. But they, like the remainder of the NFL so far, have failed to satisfy Jackson’s calls for for a long-term contract. Sure, there are considerations, equivalent to the very fact Jackson has missed 5 video games in every of the final two seasons as a result of damage, or the very fact he leans closely on his legs, or the very fact he is but to have a really productive playoff look. But the true holdup, as has been nicely documented, most likely lies mainly with the construction of his most popular contract; ever since Deshaun Watson landed a report five-year, totally assured deal from the Browns final offseason, Jackson has been angling for related safety, and groups are each publicly and privately cautious of continuous that development.
It’s why a number of retailers, from ESPN to NFL Media, have now reported or speculated that Jackson may find yourself sitting out the 2023 season solely. There’s no present indication, even from desperately QB-needy groups, that Jackson is a viable goal. Jackson, in the meantime, has gone public with a commerce request from the Ravens, suggesting he is already disenfranchised with Baltimore’s efforts to retain him. Assuming neither facet budges, the reasoning goes that the QB may merely refuse to signal the tag, keep away from penalties for holding out, and try and reenter the market in 2024.
Here’s a short overview of why Jackson ought to think about this route, and why he should not:
Why sitting out may work
A 12 months from now, different younger MVP varieties like Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert and Jalen Hurts will presumably have signed their very own profitable offers — a few of which may normalize the stronger ensures Jackson is reportedly searching for in contract talks. And if they do not? Well then Jackson could have a extra sensible mannequin for getting his personal cash.
He’s additionally way more more likely to be a real free agent, seeing because the Ravens would seemingly be required to make use of a second straight franchise tag in the event that they needed to retain Jackson in 2024. The choices then can be: get a pleasant elevate and one other supply of assured cash from Baltimore regardless of not taking a single snap the 12 months prior, or hit the marketplace for actual, the place groups would not should give up the 2 first-round draft picks they’d have to surrender this offseason, with Baltimore controlling his rights.
There’s a case to be made, even coming off two straight injury-riddled seasons, that Jackson has extra to lose than achieve by suiting up for the 2023 Ravens. If he goes down once more, his worth will lower forward of an precise likelihood to discover the market. Even if he stays upright, can he belief the entrance workplace to offer him the pass-catching weapons he is lacked for a lot of his profession? Can he belief new offensive coordinator Todd Monken, who hasn’t held an NFL job since 2019? Deshaun Watson proved, by sitting out all of 2021 amid off-field considerations, that groups will nonetheless fortunately pay for QB expertise, even when it has been shelved for some time. Jackson would nonetheless be simply 27, and theoretically more healthy and extra rested than ever, if he waited to swimsuit up till 2024.
Why sitting out may damage
The most quick blow would come within the checkbook, as Jackson can be forfeiting a borderline prime 10 QB wage — a assured $32.4 million supplied by the tag — if he refused to signal and skipped the season. He’d in fact even be forfeiting any shot of a multi-year take care of Baltimore, no less than till the 2024 offseason, although the Ravens have apparently been prepared to increase him on a prime six QB contract.
And here is the chilly actuality of the Baltimore state of affairs: As disappointing because the Ravens’ huge receiver investments have been, Jackson’s present workforce has largely leaned into his distinctive strengths as an athlete, prioritizing the run. Head coach John Harbaugh has at all times wholeheartedly endorsed the QB, his model and his management. Jackson is aware of Baltimore, and Baltimore is aware of Jackson; so it stands to purpose that his greatest path to incomes the deal he desires is proving, as soon as and for all, that he can keep on the sector, transcend no matter supporting solid the Ravens present, and pressure a workforce to reward his outcomes come 2024.
There’s additionally the factor of rust. Should Jackson sit out, now we have two current items of proof — in Watson and former Steelers working again Le’Veon Bell, who sat out 2018 as a substitute of taking part in underneath the tag — that counsel a 12 months away from the sport takes a bodily and/or psychological toll. If groups aren’t prepared to satisfy Jackson’s calls for now, are they going to line up in 2024, understanding he hasn’t performed since December 2022 and can presumably be leaving the Ravens system that housed his MVP emergence? And as an example the following wave of massive QB offers from Burrow, Herbert and/or Hurts do not swing the market in his favor. It’s exhausting to think about his greatest argument for a wealthy reward can be, “Look at how I completed 2021 and 2022.”
