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The Baltimore Ravens have taken action against Lamar Jackson by placing a non-exclusive franchise tag on him, which comes with a price tag of $32 million. This move allows Jackson to negotiate with other teams, and if he reaches an agreement with a new team, the Ravens can choose to match the offer or receive up to two first round draft picks from the team that signs him. Essentially, this puts the league in charge of determining Jackson’s value.
It appears that the NFL and the Ravens may not be entirely sold on Jackson’s worth. Some of the top insiders in the league, including Dianna Russini, and Jeff Darlington, have been quick to downplay his perceived value and leverage. This move by the Ravens and the subsequent response from the NFL insiders suggests that there may be some hesitation in terms of Lamar’s value and his future with the Ravens.
It’s worth noting that the franchise tag is often used by teams as a means of buying time to negotiate a long-term contract with a player. In Jackson’s case, however, the use of the non-exclusive franchise tag may indicate that the Ravens are not yet ready to commit to him for the long-term. It’s also possible that they are simply trying to ensure that they receive fair compensation if Jackson does end up leaving the team.
The response from the NFL insiders is also interesting. It’s not uncommon for league insiders to downplay a player’s perceived value in order to lower his asking price in contract negotiations. However, the fact that several high-profile insiders are doing so in this case could suggest that there is a broader effort to diminish Jackson’s perceived value around the league.
Once the Lamar Jackson franchise tag news became official, Russini took to Twitter to ensure her followers were aware that teams with quarterback needs have no interest in Lamar. Just feels off. Seems likely the these “team sources” might just be NFL execs pushing a narrative through one of the leagues mindless mouthpieces.
Its a narrative that makes little sense to anyone that has been watching the NFL over the last few seasons. Prior to contract disputes with the Ravens, Lamar Jackson was busy winning games and MVP honors, often being considered in the company of the leagues most elite QBs. Suddenly no team is interested in signing Lamar? Multiple former NFL players seem to be as confused and disappointed by this as I am.
Ultimately, it’s too soon to say what Jackson’s future holds. The franchise tag gives the Ravens some control over his future, but it doesn’t guarantee that he will stay with the team long-term. For now, all eyes will be on Jackson’s negotiations with other teams and the Ravens’ response to any offers he may receive.
In the end I hope Lamar gets the contract he is looking for because he deserves it. He is top 5 at the most important position in football. He’s 45-16 as a starter since entering the NFL. He won NFL MVP. He’s won a playoff game. Derek Carr, Geno Smith and Daniel Jones all signed massive deals. But no teams are interested in Lamar? Seems like blatant collusion by the NFL.
