'Terrible Experience!' Baltimore Ravens GM Eric DeCosta Reveals Stressful Lamar Jackson Negotiations

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson made history last season with a five-year, $260 million deal. But it didn't come easy.

During the 2022 season, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson turned down contract extention offers from the team, gambling on himself to play well and earn more than what was being offered.

After the season ended, the Ravens and Jackson appeared to be at a stalemate, and the team placed the franchise tag on Jackson on March 7, 2023.

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Just a few days later, Jackson took to social media to complain about the negotiations as they had taken place so far. The former Louisville Cardinal stated on X that the team's front office "has not been interested in meeting my value" for a long-term contract.

The negotiations eventually ended on April 27 when Jackson signed a five-year, $260 million deal to remain in Baltimore after he received very little interest from other teams on the open market.

One of the biggest negotiating hurdles? Jackson represented himself and allowed his mother to help with the talks. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta recently appeared on the "Next Up" podcast and revealed that it was a "terrible experience."

"Well, actually, it was a terrible experience. ... The challenge was that he represented himself,” DeCosta said of the negotiation. “When you’re a parent, it’s very hard to tell your kids that they’re not very good at something or not as good as they think they are. Or to disagree sometimes. And with Lamar, it was very hard for both of us to disagree at times. With an agent, it’s easy for a general manager to say to an agent: ‘Your client’s not as good as he thinks he is, or I’m not giving you this. I know you want it, but I’m not giving you this, and here’s why.’

“When we got the deal done, it was one of the happiest moments in my professional career.”