Lamar Jackson's new deal estimated at $170M over four years
While Lamar Jackson is not eligible for free agency until 2023, there is already talk about how much it might cost the Ravens to keep him on their roster.
Much of the speculation is prompted by the extension fellow quarterback Patrick Mahomes was able to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs — 10 years and worth up to $503 million.
Jackson is currently looking at a new contract that pays an average salary of $42.5 million annually and will be valued at $170 million over four years, according to estimations by Spotrac based on the contracts of comparable players such as Mahomes, Russell Wilson, Jared Goff, and Carson Wentz.
Jackson, who represents himself, will also be closely watching the contracts Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott are able to secure with their current teams or in the free-agent market.
In 2018, Jackson signed a four-year, $9.5 million rookie contract, including a $4.97 million signing bonus, $7.58 million guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $2.38 million.
He has played himself into a much better deal, especially if he can lead the Ravens to the Super Bowl.
Jackson is coming off one of the most successful regular seasons by any quarterback in NFL history. He completed 265 of 401 passes for 3,127 yards and an NFL-high 36 touchdowns, which was also a franchise record, in 2019.
Jackson finished with 1,206 yards rushing — sixth-best in the league and the most by a quarterback in NFL single-season history.
He is the only quarterback in NFL history to produce at least 3,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in a season. He is also just the third quarterback in league history to produce at least 35 passing touchdowns and seven rushing touchdowns in a season, joining Steve Young (1994) and Cam Newton (2015).
Jackson can increase his value even more if he can take the Ravens farther in the postseason. He is currently 0-2 in the playoffs over his young career.
Jackson understands that's one of the main differences between him and Mahomes.
"I gotta win me a Super Bowl," Jackson said in an interview with ESPN. "I gotta get to where he's at."
