NFL Case: Lamar Jackson V. Baltimore

Everything was cool just a few years ago. Lamar Jackson was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in 2018, and by his sophomore year in the NFL he was honored with being the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the league. Since then, the Ravens have seemed to do more and more of testing his patience when it comes to him continuing his job with the Ravens organization.

After Jackson’s first four years on his rookie contract, the Ravens offered him a five year extension worth over $250 million. Opposite of what Jackson wanted, the Ravens did not fully guarantee his contract, and neither were they willing to. Apparently Jackson did not mind too much, because he just played under the fifth year option of his rookie contract.

At the start of the 2022 season, many were admiring the nobleness of Jackson saying he is willing to do what it takes to be paid how he would like. The reward that we all were hoping for was great, but that was just in hopes.

How the Baltimore Ravens would actually celebrate Jackson’s accomplishment as a Raven wouldn’t be known until the end of the season. Once again, it was our hope that Jackson does what he does in typical Lamar Jackson fashion so that he would be paid as a top quarterback should. The season did not end up being one of best for Jackson nor the Ravens.

Jackson played 12 games, and missed the final six games and the wild card round of the playoffs with leg injuries. So, after the season Jackson became a free agent and was looking to be re-signed to Baltimore, which he was with similar problems. Jackson signed to be franchised tagged by Baltimore and is currently looking to be traded.

Where athletes understand the firmness of Jackson, is as you look across the league at a few quarterbacks that have not performed as well as Jackson nor have the potential to do what he will do under the right circumstances.

Russell Wilson, Deshaun Watson, and Kyler Murray have all received big paydays that will solidify them for more than 5 years. None of these players have had the impact on their teams or on the league the way Lamar Jackson has.

This caused people like ‘Prime Time’ Deion Sanders himself to be in support of Jackson, saying “Stop explaining Yourself to fools and allow fools to be fools,” he said on Twitter. “A brother trying that’s strong, believes in himself and willing to stand for what he believes will always be misunderstood & judged by fools of all ethnicities. Love ya my brother and ‘I Believe in You’!”

We indeed believe in Jackson,and we’ll be excited to see where his next landing spot will be 2023.