Negotiations between Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens have dragged on for months. The franchise may have offered the quarterback a mega contract. But the NFL star apparently left that cold – especially the guaranteed salary is said not to have turned out according to the player’s wish.

Munich – What’s next for Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens? Negotiations regarding a new contract have dragged on for months, with no agreement in sight despite mutual efforts. And this despite the fact that the quarterback had originally named the start of the season as the deadline.

One day before the start of the season, the franchise released a statement from general manager Eric DeCosta, in which it was emphasised that no agreement could be reached with the player. Jackson is thus entering his final year of contract, and the Ravens plan to resume negotiations after the season.

Concrete figures from the negotiations have not been leaked so far. “ESPN is now reporting a lavish offer from the franchise, which the star quarterback is said to have rejected. The Ravens apparently offered a new six-year contract in which Jackson could earn 250 million dollars, according to ESPN. NFL reporter Chris Mortensen, citing his own sources, even reports a total volume of more than 290 million US dollars.

133 million dollars would have been guaranteed – and thus more than the 124 million dollars for Russell Wilson (Denver Broncos) or the 103.3 million dollars for Kyler Murray (Arizona Cardinals) – but also not nearly as much as the 230 million dollars guaranteed in the contract of Deshaun Watson (Cleveland Browns).

Ravens offer unsatisfactory?

Jackson’s annual salary would have surpassed the $48.5 million annual salary recently negotiated for Wilson. Fully guaranteed, as Jackson had hoped, the amount would not have been, however.

The 25-year-old, who is not represented by a management team in the negotiations, was advised by the players’ union. The NFLPA advised him that because of his age and performance, he was entitled to ask for a fully guaranteed contract if that was what he wanted.

Jackson will play in his fifth year under contract with the Ravens in 2022 for a $23 million salary. According to “ESPN” the quarterback is considering following Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins’ former strategy and going for the franchise tag.

Will Jackson stay via franchise tag?

So the Ravens could keep Jackson via franchise tag in 2023 and 2024. The union projects that would pay him about $100 million for both years.

If he goes that route, he would be a free agent in 2025.