The Baltimore Ravens and Lamar Jackson have gone back and forth on their contract negotiations for more than a year now.
The former MVP could be a sought-after commodity in the offseason — provided he’s allowed to seek a trade somewhere else — but the Ravens are trying to keep him on board for at least another year.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Ravens GM Eric DeCosta headed to Miami to try and work things out with Lamar in person before Tuesday’s deadline to place him under the franchise tag.
However, Pelissero adds that both parties are still miles away in terms of reaching an agreement, and there’s little-to-no optimism they will get a deal done.
#Ravens QB Lamar Jackson and GM Eric DeCosta met recently in Jackson’s hometown of Miami in hopes of working towards a deal, per sources.
But after more than a year of negotiations, the sides remain apart and the situation appears headed toward a franchise tag Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/BWqFZMUbBW
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 6, 2023
Needless to say, this news didn’t sit well with Ravens fans, who took to Twitter to share their thoughts on the matter.
Lamar PLEASE DONT GOOOOO!!! https://t.co/C6CmEMahmQ pic.twitter.com/7YB4hup1lf
— Nitro The Wunderkind (@Nitro_Quantum) March 5, 2023
He said “if you don’t sign me this is where I’ll be playing”
— huncho (@ErickHuncho) March 6, 2023
The ravens are showing all future players than they aren’t loyal. He deserves the money.
—ZAE⚡️ (@ZaeMcGuire) March 6, 2023
They’re going to mess around and put Harbaugh’s preseason win streak in jeopardy.
—Brian (@BrianCinBengals) March 6, 2023
One side will look like a genius at the end of this, and the other side 🤷🏿♂️
—John Minns (@lilMINNS) March 6, 2023
Lamar Jackson is one of the prime quarterbacks in the game, and they just can’t afford to lose him or make him force his way out of the team.
They’ve given him little-to-no weapons to work with in the passing game, they’ve thrown him under the bus publicly and privately, and they don’t seem to respect him enough to meet his market value and conditions.
Jackson’s injury-proneness and style of play will always bode a concern in terms of his long-term health.
But that’s just the market for quarterbacks nowadays, and the Ravens ought to decide whether they want to have a disgruntled player at the game’s most important position, or if they’ll just pay the man what he’s worth.
NEXT:
NFL Fans React To Lamar Jackson Contract Rumors
