Whether the Baltimore Ravens would extend franchise quarterback Lamar Jackson was one of the most important questions going into the 2022 NFL season. The Ravens and Jackson were unable to come to an agreement after almost half the season had passed. The quarterback is currently in the last season of his rookie deal, and contract negotiations are anticipated to pick back up after the season.
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Ed Reed, a former legendary Ravens safety, spoke out about the circumstance. Reed cautioned Jackson to use common sense, saying that at the end of the day, everything is about business.
“He just needs to be intelligent. I’m not telling him to act scared or anything because I don’t think he’ll act scared; he hasn’t shown any signs of being scared. However, he needs to be wise because they will use that s**t against you whether you like it or not because it’s a business”.
Ed Reed believes the Ravens have the bag, but they will not give it to Lamar. He stated that Lamar is handling it like a professional and that he is having a great year, which is all that can be asked. He also believes Lamar has done enough to prove himself to that franchise, and Lamar should have known that Baltimore is not known for paying large sums of money.
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Lamar Jackson’s contract extension negotiations
In 2022, Lamar Jackson has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Many people are less concerned about his performance this season and more concerned about where he will play in 2023 and beyond.
#Ravens Ed Reed tells Lamar Jackson: Ravens are a business first, if you get hurt they’ll pay you less.
— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) September 27, 2022
Jackson is in the final year of his rookie contract, which he signed with the Ravens following the 2018 NFL Draft. The first four years of Jackson’s contract were worth $9.5 million each, with the final year — a fifth-year option — worth slightly more than $23 million.
As a result, Jackson set a deadline for reaching an agreement with the Ravens. Although the sides were unable to reach an agreement before the deadline, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta felt that negotiations went well.
“Despite our best efforts on both sides, we were unable to reach an agreement with Lamar Jackson on a contract extension,” DeCosta had said in a statement.
“We appreciate how he has handled this process, and we are excited about our team, led by Lamar. We will continue to work toward a long-term contract after the season, but for the time being, we are focused on a successful 2022 season.”
