Ravens Failing to Make Headway on New Deal for Star Lamar Jackson

Ravens rookie head coach Jesse Minter tried to downplay the absence of superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson this week for the start of his first Organized Team Activity practices since taking over for legendary coach John Harbaugh.

But the reality is general managers and contract negotiators and agents around the league have been watching the team’s failure yet again to get Jackson extended in a forthright fashion, and his absence as a time when a young staff is trying to implement a new offence is being viewed as a direct shot at the team’s front office.

A year ago, the Bills tore up Josh Allens contract, he is a most logical comp for Jackson from a production and style of play and contract standpoint, while the Ravens made minimal efforts to do the same with Jackson. 

When the team attempted to get him signed in February, league sources said those efforts got nowhere, and when the Ravens executed a maximum restructure of Jackson‘s deal, setting up a ridiculous $90M cap his in 2027 and ceding all leverage to the player, they set themselves up for him showing them up.

And that is exactly how his absence looks leaguewide.

Was Jackson Present The Last Time They Changed Offenses?

“You would know better than me, but wasn’t he there when (Todd) Monken took over (in 2023), and they installed a new offense?” one general manager said. “Of course, he’s pissed off about not having a new contract. He’s holding all the cards.”

In fact, Jackson made a point of being present for OTAs when Monken took over for his first offensive coordinator, Greg Roman, telling the media that he made sure to be present from the start because: “It’s a new offense. I have to get that down pat before the season begins… I just wanted to learn the new offense and get with my guys.”

While Minter has tried to write off his absence as a scheduling quirk, Jackson has been in Baltimore quite a bit this spring, and he also indicated nothing on his social media about his absence. It’s being read around the league a certain way because there is a long history between this player, who serves as his own agent, and this front office of negotiations going sideways.

Jackson essentially had a contract that was voided before the start of the 2027 League Year, given how cumbersome his deal is for that year. He also has no trade and no franchise tag provision. The consensus around the league is that the Ravens will have a difficult time resolving this without giving Jackson a new deal with $250M or more fully guaranteed before the start of the season; he will most likely be traded prior to 2027.