Lamar Jackson has received the non-exclusive franchise tag from the Baltimore Ravens. This means he is under contract in Baltimore, but Jackson can negotiate with other teams – only they don’t seem interested. Why won’t anyone pay the former MVP?

Contract negotiations between the Baltimore Ravens and quarterback Lamar Jackson are ongoing.

However, not since this season or last season, but since 2021, the first year a new contract may be negotiated.

An agreement still seems a long way off. But why, actually? And why does no other team seem to be interested in the services of the former MVP? After all, the Falcons, Commanders, Panthers, Dolphins and Raiders all admitted they were not interested in Jackson.

Causa Lamar Jackson – Thesis 1: Guaranteed amount in the contract

Quasi since those contract talks have been going on, it’s been relatively clear: The guarantee amount in Jackson’s contract should be as high as possible. In the NFL, it’s not so much the total volume that counts, but the guaranteed amount. A 170-million contract with 150 million guaranteed is seen as more valuable than a 200-million contract with 100 million guaranteed.

When the trade of Deshaun Watson to the Cleveland Browns was announced last summer, the Browns also gave him a fully guaranteed $230 million contract extension.

One person in particular was annoyed by this: Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti. “My first reaction was, ‘Damn! I wish they hadn’t given him a fully guaranteed contract'”. Not because Bisciotti is begrudging or Watson would be in his own division, but because he knew his quarterback would also want to negotiate in those price ranges.

But why would anyone want to prevent a fully guaranteed salary at any price?

Causa Lamar Jackson – Thesis 2: Injury susceptibility due to playing style

This is where our second thesis comes into play: Lamar Jackson has become injury-prone. He missed four games in each of the past two years. In his first three years, it was none – at least due to injury.

In itself, two injuries in a total of five years is also manageable, but Jackson’s style of play is still a concern: He is a mobile quarterback, if not the most mobile quarterback in the NFL. He takes a lot of hits and sets quick changes of direction like a running back. Their half-life in the NFL is known to be among the shortest of all positions.

The quarterback is known to be not only the most important, but the most influential position on the football field. Accordingly, he is also the best paid. But do you want to sacrifice a large portion of your salary for a player who already has knee problems and is unlikely to deliver a 23-year NFL career like Tom Brady?

It’s not as if teams, including the Ravens, don’t want to take Jackson, but only at performance-based bonuses in the contract. New Era, on the other hand, doesn’t want that. Both parties know: Jackson’s style of play is an attrition. How long before he finally wears out? No one knows.

Causa Lamar Jackson – Thesis 3: Offensive scheme

Lamar Jackson is not a “plug ‘n’ play” quarterback. That is, you can’t just put him on another team and expect him to perform as well or even better there than he did with the Ravens.

Jackson plays in a system that is designed for him with a number of quarterback power plays that don’t even involve faking a run, but rather the playmaker immediately running with the egg. That wouldn’t work for teams like the New England Patriots, Detroit Lions or Los Angeles Rams, for example – at least not just like that. Their quarterbacks are so-called “pocket passers”.

With the non-exclusive franchise tag the Ravens gave the 26-year-old, other teams can make Jackson an offer but would have to pay two first-round picks plus present an improved offer. So not only would you be burdening your own cap, you’d be trading away two important picks. That no team is currently pushing to try that is almost logical.

What are Jackson’s options?

The franchise tag has only been set so far, but not yet signed. Jackson could refuse to sign it and insist on a long-term contract. The last player to actually strike against the tag was Le’Veon Bell of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Should the playmaker go the same way, he would not be allowed to negotiate with any other team and his rights would remain with the Baltimore Ravens. In addition, he would miss out on his entire salary of 32 million dollars. In theory, he has until week ten to decide. The later it gets, the less annual salary he is entitled to.

At the moment it is still completely open where Lamar Jackson’s journey will take him. The only fact is that a lot will happen around him between now and the start of the season in September 2023.