According to reports, it will be a herculean move for the Baltimore Ravens to extend Lamar Jackson’s deal before the start of the season. According to a Sunday update from Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer, the Ravens have outbid Kyler Murray’s five-year, $230.5 million deal.
In March, Watson agreed to a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract with the Cleveland Browns.
From Jackson’s viewpoint, it is simple to understand why he would want the Ravens to demonstrate a same level of dedication. Watson does not have an MVP on his mantle like Jackson has. Compared to Watson’s two postseason appearances, Jackson has guided the Ravens to three.
There is no resume-based justification for Jackson to receive Watson’s lower guaranteed salary.
These things aren’t always linear, of course.
The Browns were acting out of sheer desperation when they mortgaged a number of potential draft picks and lavished a huge new salary on a player who was already under a long-term contract and who was dealing with well reported allegations of sexual assault and misbehavior.
Even Watson’s contract was designed by Cleveland to reduce the financial fallout in the case of a suspension. (Last week, the NFL and NFLPA reached an agreement on an 11-game punishment.)
In the history of the NFL, there may have never been a deal that was as lucrative, which is perhaps why there were stories of teams being upset with the Watson contract.
In contrast, Murray’s deal only includes complete guarantees for $103.3 million out of a total guarantee amount of $160 million.
