Lamar Jackson, one of NFL’s elite quarterbacks, is on the market. Surprisingly, not one quarterback-needy team is reportedly interested in pursuing him.
The Baltimore Ravens assigned the “non-exclusive” franchise tag to Jackson after failing to agree on a long-term deal, the team announced Tuesday. Jackson is now free to negotiate with other teams beginning March 15 and if there’s an agreement, the Ravens would have the right to match the offer or decline and receive two first-round draft picks as compensation.
There was speculation the Ravens could lose Jackson by using the non-exclusive franchise tag because if Jackson and another team agree to a deal, the Ravens couldn’t or wouldn’t match. That speculation was wildly off base.
Teams (Atlanta, Miami, Washington, Carolina, Las Vegas) that could a use a quarterback with Jackson’s skillset reportedly said they would not pursue a deal with Jackson.
The teams’ decision to turn away from the 26-year-old Jackson sent shockwaves across the league, particularly among players. Jackson, a former league MVP, has posted a record of 46-19 as a starter and has led the Ravens to the playoffs in four of his first five years in the league.
Jackson is reportedly asking for a contract similar to the deal Deshaun Watson signed with the Cleveland Browns last season. Watson signed a five-year, $230 million contract, with every penny fully guaranteed. That contract set off alarm bells among the owners, who don’t want to give another quarterback a fully guaranteed contract.
There is plenty of speculation of collusion among the league’s owners. Particularly when teams – including the many of the same ones who aren’t interested in Jackson – were lining up to try and sign Watson last season. Those teams were interested despite multiple lawsuits alleging that Watson engaged in sexual misconduct during massage therapy sessions and knowing he would likely be suspended for the majority of the 2022 season.
According a report, the NFL Players Association is keeping “a close eye” on the Jackson situation and possible collusion.
The owners may not be interested in surrendering two first-round picks and giving Jackson a huge contract that could hamstring a franchise trying to add quality players to help build the team into a playoff contender. Or they’re just trying to kill fully guaranteed contracts for quarterbacks once and for all.
