The slow trudge of the NFL offseason can warp the perception of time for those that live in the daily grind. Events that occurred mere weeks or months ago seem deeply ingrained, creating a false sense of inertia that obscures how quickly fortunes can change.
This dynamic has come into play with the contract standoff between Baltimore Ravens and Lamar Jackson. Negotiations for an extension with the 2019 league MVP once seemed like a mere formality, as no team willingly allows a genuine franchise signal-caller in his mid-20s to approach the open market. However, that sense of inevitably quickly unraveled this offseason despite momentum building up over the previous year.
A quick-and-dirty timeline of events:
Jan. 25, 2021 – Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta says he “will be talking to Lamar probably in the next 10 days or so” regarding an extension, the team’s first opportunity to do so under the collective-bargaining agreement.
April 19, 2021 – DeCosta acknowledges that he and Jackson have begun formally discussing a contract extension.
May 4, 2021 – DeCosta dismisses the notion that Jackson’s choice to represent himself in contract negotiations would complicate the process.
Sept. 13, 2021 – With no deal in place and Week 1 approaching, the Ravens and Jackson put talks on the backburner to focus on the season, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Jan. 9, 2022 – A loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers eliminates the Ravens from the playoffs, a fall precipitated by an ankle injury for Jackson that cost him the final four games of the season.
Feb. 4, 2022 – DeCosta says Ravens will operate “at Lamar’s pace” regarding contract talks.
Feb. 10, 2022 – “No longer feels like a given” that Ravens extend Jackson prior to training camp, according to The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec.
March 29, 2022 – Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti says the team will “pay him when he’s ready,” lending further credence to the notion that Jackson won’t sign an extension in near future.
April 8, 2022 – On the topic of reigniting contract talks with Jackson, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh says “he’s not ready, you know?“
Starting with the beginning of the Ravens’ offseason, the discussion around Jackson’s future clearly shifts in a more ambiguous direction. One could read that change as a sign that Jackson wants to play out his rookie deal in a fashion similar to Dak Prescott, using the franchise tag for leverage but ultimately staying in Baltimore on a megadeal. Others might see this as tangible signs of discord between the team and its franchise player, ultimately leading to a divorce sometime over the next 24 months or so.
[Discuss this article on the BSL message board]
But though the public statements from the Ravens can bolster either theory, their actions — especially those that remained behind the scenes until recently — cast some doubt on that binary.
In a move that came as a surprise to many, Baltimore traded lead wideout Marquise “Hollywood” Brown to the Arizona Cardinals during the first night of the 2022 NFL Draft. The deal sent shockwaves through the league, especially after Jackson tweeted “Wtf” in an apparent reaction soon after. Had the Ravens risked further strain on their relationship with Jackson by dealing his top wide receiver in secret?
No, as it turns out. As Cardinals GM Steve Keim explained at a press conference, the two teams had worked on a deal for “quite some time.” Indeed, Brown had already traveled to Arizona in anticipation of the trade and appeared at his new team’s draft party. Exactly how much communication took place between the Ravens and Jackson on the matter remains unclear, but the quarterback knew about the transaction well before the public did.
How the Ravens handled Brown — almost entirely out of public view — shouldn’t go ignored. The wideout originally made a trade request last season, and the team worked with him to facilitate a deal that would benefit all parties. By all accounts, the situation never boiled over during 2021 and highlights the soft touch the organization can apply when needed.
And that particular skill could come in handy as it pertains to Jackson.
In the direct aftermath of the draft, the two sides appear no closer to reaching a new contract than they did when Harbaugh acknowledged that the quarterback wasn’t ready in early April. No deadline to spur action nears either, as organized-team activities don’t begin until the end of May and mandatory minicamp won’t kick off until June 14.
At the same time, the way the Ravens handled Brown strongly suggests that any breakthrough would also take place behind closed doors. Jackson has every reason to maximize his value, but that can happen in concert with the team protecting both parties with a long-term deal. Even if such an agreement doesn’t come together until an offseason from now — the new TV money hits the salary cap in 2023 — Baltimore and its franchise signal-caller can plan any deal accordingly.
So while Jackson likely won’t put pen to paper in the near future, there probably won’t be much advance warning when he and the Ravens strike a deal.
Jason B. Hirschhorn is an award-winning sports journalist and Pro Football Writers of America member. He has bylines at NFL.com, SB Nation, Sports Illustrated, and other outlets.