Lamar Jackson has seen the non-exclusive franchise tag placed on him by the Baltimore Ravens, meaning he will be offered a contract by another NFL team.
After lots of speculation regarding what the Ravens will do with Jackson, they've finally made their decision by using the non-exclusive tag. The tag means that Jackson is permitted to sign an offer sheet with another team, and then the Ravens can either match their offer and either keep him or opt for a trade.
Jackson turned down a five-year £208.5m ($250m) deal with the Ravens last season, a contract that would have seen him make a guaranteed £111m ($133m). Jackson clearly feels as though he is worth more than what the franchise initially offered, and will now wait to see what figures come his way.
A statement was posted by Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta, which read: "Having not reached a long-term deal with Lamar Jackson, we will use the franchise tag. There have been many instances across the league and in Baltimore when a player has been designated with the franchise tag and signed a long-term deal that same year.
"We will continue to negotiate in good faith with Lamar, and we are hopeful that we can strike a long-term deal that is fair to both Lamar and the Ravens. Our ultimate goal is to build a championship team with Lamar Jackson leading the way with many years to come."
It was a bold move by Jackson to reject such a sizeable deal last year, but with massive contracts flying around elsewhere in the NFL, it could be worth the gamble for him. In March last year, DeShaun Watson's deal with the Cleveland Browns saw him sign the largest contract and most guaranteed money in NFL history.
Watson's five-year guaranteed deal was worth $230m (£196m), and Aaron Rodgers also agreed a $150m three-year extension with the Green Bay Packers in the same month. It's likely those deals turned Jackson's head, and the tag means he can shop for the best deal out there.
Of course, the Ravens want to keep Jackson, and they may also have used the non-exclusive tag to get a gauge on what other teams are willing to offer. If they can't match it, or simply don't want to, then they can accept that Jackson will depart and plot their next steps.
If they do match it, they then face a decision over whether they should keep Jackson at the franchise or trade him. Jackson is one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL, but a trade would allow them to pick up crucial draft picks to rebuild and strengthen for the future.
However, DeCosta's statement suggests that signing him long-term to guide them is their priority, and they'll continue to work behind the scenes. Those ambitions will be music to the ears of head coach John Harbaugh, who said last season: "You know I love Lamar, I love everything about Lamar. Always have, always will."
