Ravens Will Struggle to 'Conduct Business' Amid Jackson Uncertainty Says NFL Analyst
The Baltimore Ravens contract standoff with quarterback Lamar Jackson still rages on. After several reports stated that Baltimore offered Jackson a new deal that would see him earn $50 million a year, but the guaranteed money needed to be higher (was reportedly $133 million).
Now as we get closer to the NFL Draft, a decision one way or another needs to be made. Baltimore has needs, and what happens with Lamar and his future hinges on what the Ravens can do going forward.
NFL analyst Daniel Jeremiah held a conference call previewing the 2023 Scouting Combine and stated that until the franchise knows how the situation with Jackson turns out, it will be tough to do business via the draft or free agency.
"I don't know how you really conduct business if you are Baltimore right now," Jeremiah said.
"Until you get an answer kind of one way or the other whether or not you're going to be able to come close on a deal and feel like you can get something done there or you've got to start planning around that."
So, everything hinges on Jackson's contract decision. Whether Baltimore can re-sign him or not remains to be seen. But if the reports are accurate that Lamar wants more guaranteed money, then it could get dicey.
While Baltimore wants to get a deal done (from the outside, at least), Jeremiah said that if both parties are too far away from a conclusion, then the franchise may have to start looking at alternatives.
"If you are this far apart and it's a philosophical difference in terms of guarantees, then you have to start at least thinking about the possibility and planning for a future where he wouldn't be there," Jeremiah said.
That will certainly send shivers down the spines of Ravens fans, but the longer the contract remains unsigned, the more likely it appears that Lamar will not be a Raven for much longer.
Either way, a decision has to be made, or Baltimore's offseason will be handcuffed by a contract situation that should have been resolved well before now.
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