'Lot of Energy!' Ravens' Ozzie Newsome on Lamar Jackson Tag Deadline Contract Talks
The Baltimore Ravens are running out of time to get a long-term deal done for quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Having had essentially two years to get Jackson to sign on the dotted line, the looming thought is that Lamar will play under the franchise tag in 2023.
But...
The franchise is still working feverishly to get Jackson signed to a new deal. With the March 7 deadline for the franchise tag upon us, Ravens executive vice president Ozzie Newsome says that the organization is doing everything possible to get Jackson signed to a long-term deal.
"The biggest thing is we have a deadline tomorrow at 4 O'clock to put the tag on," Newsome said on The Bernie Kosar Show.
"And I know that today and up until about 3:30 tomorrow, a lot of energy is going to be utilized in trying to get a deal done. And if not, we will put the franchise tag on him."
So, either way, Lamar will be a Raven in 2023. It is just a matter of whether he will be under the franchise tag or have a shiny new contract.
Since Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta stated last week that it is hard for the franchise to do business with Jackson's uncertain future, it should be clearer in 48 hours.
With New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones set for a huge payday of around $40 million a year, per reports, Jackson should expect more than that.
But it doesn't seem like the Ravens want to part with that much money. The saga has dragged on longer than it needed to, and if Jackson is tagged, then we can all expect this conversation to come around at the same time next year.
If all the energy goes into getting a deal done, then the Ravens and Lamar will come to terms. If not, then the 2023 season will again have an ominous cloud hanging over it.
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