The Baltimore Ravens insisted they want Lamar Jackson to ‘finish his career’ with the franchise as the 2019 NFL MVP enters the offseason with free agency beckoning.
On Sunday, the Ravens were knocked out of Super Wild Card Weekend in the NFL playoffs as they put in a spirited performance but fell 24-17 to the Cincinnati Bengals. Their AFC North rivals - and division champions - were able to squeeze out the result with Baltimore’s backup quarterback Tyler Huntley piloting the visiting offence.
Jackson had missed six straight weeks of practice since suffering a PCL sprain in the regular season. Without their starting quarterback, the Ravens finished 2022 campaign with a 10-7 record and secured a place in the playoffs only to fall at the first hurdle.
The 26-year-old recently took to social media to shed light on his recovery and referred to his injury as a ‘Grade 2’ sprain that is a borderline Grade 3 issue. The problem was originally listed as ‘week to week’ by head coach John Harbaugh, but Jackson remained absent.
As the offseason officially commences in Baltimore, Jackson appears to be ready to apply pressure to the Ravens’ front office. He took to social media to post an ominous message after their playoff defeat, which appeared to be a direct shot at the franchise.
With their season over, the Ravens have insisted they are confident they can tie Jackson to a long-term deal to remain in Baltimore. On Thursday, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta held an end-of-season press conference and said: “I truly believe Lamar wants to finish his career in Baltimore.”
DeCosta suggested he had spoken with Jackson and declared his excitement to resume negotiations with the former MVP. The sides are yet to reach an agreement after two years of contract talks and negotiations were suspended at the start of the regular season.
Jackson has finished the fifth-year option of his rookie deal and if no new contract is ironed out by March, Baltimore will have to place the franchise tag on the quarterback to keep him from exploring the market as an unrestricted free agent. Without a new contract, the Ravens can keep Jackson in Baltimore for only two more seasons with the franchise tag.
DeCosta refused to entertain questions about potentially trading Jackson, while he insisted he envisions the quarterback starting for the Ravens in 2023. The GM also added he believes Jackson’s absence down the stretch was strictly to do with his injury rather than contract dispute.
“Lamar was hurt,” DeCosta said. “His unique style as a mobile quarterback and a freaky type of athlete out there on the field, and having a serious knee injury, makes it difficult. I know he was trying to come back.”
Ravens coach John Harbaugh also conveyed optimism that Baltimore will get a deal completed with Jackson, while he also suggested the quarterback was ‘close’ to returning ahead of the playoffs. Jackson will reportedly have input on the team’s next offensive coordinator after Greg Roman resigned from his post after four seasons.
Jackson won the 2019 MVP award and became the second unanimous winner of the award after Tom Brady thanks to his dominant campaign. Jackson is one of the NFL’s most exciting players and certainly deserves a lucrative deal.
He has already turned one blockbuster offer down from the Ravens. Jackson reportedly turned down an offer worth $274m over six years to keep him in Baltimore through 2027 - with $133m fully guaranteed.
