Report: Ravens’ Lamar Jackson seeking fully guaranteed contract worth more than Deshaun Watson’s $230M deal

With Week 1 of the NFL season just a month away, Baltimore Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson still doesn’t have a contract agreement with the team beyond the 2022 season. 

Jackson was always going to get paid a hefty amount, but a shift in the quarterback market may have changed his asking price. 

According to Outkick’s Jason Cole, Jackson wants a contract that pays him the most guaranteed money among quarterbacks in the NFL. 

“Jackson is asking for a contract that is both fully guaranteed and worth more than the $230 million that Cleveland gave to quarterback Deshaun Watson on a five-year deal this offseason,” Cole wrote. 

In July, Jackson said “I think so” when asked if both sides could agree to a long-term deal before the start of the season. He added there would be a “cutoff” point for negotiations. 

Last April, the Ravens exercised the fifth-year option on Jackson’s rookie contract, which will pay the former MVP $23 million this season. The 25-year-old can become an unrestricted free agent next offseason. 

In 12 regular-season games last season, Jackson led the Raven to a 7-5 record, but Baltimore failed to reach the postseason. Jackson completed 64.4 percent of his passes in 2021, throwing for 2,882 yards, 16 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He also posted 767 yards off 133 rushing attempts, averaging 5.8 yards per carry, with two scores. 

Jackson, in a contract year, could be in store for a big 2022. He noticeably bulked up ahead of the training camp, with Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman saying it’s “the best I’ve ever seen him throw.”