Lamar Jackson is a confident man. Practically the whole world thinks he can’t win a Super Bowl with his style of play. Fair or not it feels as if Jackson is held to a different standard than any other player. People call the youngest MVP in NFL history “overrated.” Detractors point to the fact that he has not won a Super Bowl as evidence for that claim. I wonder why Josh Allen and Justin Herbert are hoisted up as the next leaders of the NFL, while Jackson still has to prove himself. Ridiculous on so many levels, and Lamar knows it. That’s why he’s betting on himself. He knows if he puts in the work he’ll succeed. However, his contract situation with the Ravens is a little more nuanced than most people realize, let’s get into it.
The Lowdown
Lamar Demeatrice Jackson Jr. does not have an agent. And you know what? He doesn’t need one. Professional agents around the league are praising how he’s handled his situation. Why should he have someone taking 3% of whatever he earns, which is going to be a big number, when he can take care of himself? Get your bag, Lamar.
So, what’s with all the hubbub surrounding the negotiations? Well, according to the Ravens, Jackson is refusing to speak with them about an extension. Eric DeCosta, the Ravens GM, said that it “takes two sides” to make a deal. The implication being that Lamar isn’t really coming to the table. Obviously, when something like this happens people are going to talk. Baltimore fans should know better than to listen to the noise. The city loves it’s quarterback, and he loves his fans:
How Much Is He Going To Make?
The top-earning quarterback in the league right now by AAV is Aaron Rodgers at over $50 million a year. He’s followed by Deshaun Watson (somehow), Patrick Mahomes, and Josh Allen. Derek Carr rounds out the top five at just over $40 million per year. Jackson should easily surpass Watson. He has 24 lawsuits against him and still managed to get $230 million guaranteed. Don’t be surprised if Lamar joins Rodgers in the $50 mil club.
Is He Worth It?
If you’ve ever seen the man play and your answer to this question is no… you must be a soccer fan. He does things like this to NFL-caliber athletes. His game is the definition of kinetic beauty. He’s like the Steph Curry of football because his presence alone alters the defense.
“But he didn’t have the best 2021.”
Shut up.
He carried the Ravens’ injury-riddled roster for the first half of the season. He had the Ravens at 8-3 before they lost their six games in a row. The man put the team on his back and nearly carried them to the playoffs. Things only fell apart when Lamar himself was slowed by an injury in week 14 against the Browns. Lamar Jackson is one of the most exciting players in the NFL, he’s a top player in the league, and he is the Ravens. Although some might disagree, the haters will be proven wrong in time. Jackson’s already proven so many wrong about him, and he’ll continue to do so.
