As the NFL offseason unfolds, the status of quarterback Lamar Jackson will remain one of the top stories in the league. The quarterback’s contract will expire in March, but he and the Ravens have not been close on a potential extension.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Jackson’s asking price in negotiations with Baltimore has been a fully guaranteed deal that is more than the contract of Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. However, another ESPN employee has reported otherwise.
On First Take, Stephen A. Smith said that Jackson’s camp told him the quarterback was not making those demands.
“I was connected to Lamar Jackson’s camp yesterday, and I was absolutely emphatically ensured that Lamar Jackson has never asked for a fully guaranteed deal,” Smith said Friday.
In reporting this information, Smith did not want to call out other reporters. However, the information he received was not the same as was initially reported.
“I don’t want to sit up here and dispute or refute what other NFL insiders, for this network and beyond, are saying. I don’t cover the NFL like that, they do,” Smith said. “I just want to make sure that I’m clear, I’m echoing what Lamar Jackson’s camp said, because they reached out to me personally yesterday.”
According to Smith, Jackson’s camp said the highest number for guaranteed money that Baltimore is offering is $133 million, which is a lower number than that of six other quarterbacks in the league. Watson will make $230 million fully guaranteed over his contract, while Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, Kyler Murray, Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes are all set to earn between $140 million and $165 million guaranteed in their deals.
