27 April 2023 , 21:08
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Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens have settled their long-standing contract dispute hours before the NFL Draft with the quarterback becoming the highest-paid player in NFL history.
The quarterback has penned a five-year $260million extension, ending more than two years of protracted negotiations between the former MVP and the team.
The Ravens had placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Jackson after being unable to agree terms before the deadline last month with the player's contract expiring. As a result, the 26-year-old's future for this season and beyond has been decidedly uncertain, although major trade interest was not forthcoming.
But Jackson put the matter to bed on Thursday in a video posted on the Ravens' Twitter account.
He said: "You know for the past few months, there has been a lot of 'He said, she said', a lot of nail-biting and head-scratching going on, but for the next five years, there is a lot of flock going on. Let's go, baby! I can't wait to be there and light up M&T for the next five years man. Let's get it."
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According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, Jackson's contract is $260m across five years, exceeding $255m deal recently signed by Philadelphia Eagles star Jalen Hurts. It is understood the contract includes $185m guaranteed.
Lamar Jackson has inked a blockbuster new contract with the Baltimore Ravens (Nick Wass/AP/REX/Shutterstock)It was reported that contract negotiations had gone stale for a period, after the Ravens placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on him. That allowed him to speak to rival teams and receive offers - but the Ravens always held the option to match them.
Jackson then took to social media to confirm he'd requested a trade away from the Ravens, sparking fears he would be leaving the team that had drafted him out of college.
In the end, it took Hurts agreeing a record-breaking contract of his own with the Philadelphia Eagles before the Ravens finally decided to stump up the cash for the quarterback, agreeing a deal relatively quickly after talks reportedly resumed on Monday.