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The Lamar Jackson saga is getting more and more concerning for the Baltimore Ravens. After both sides were unable to compromise a deal the previous offseason, Lamar is set to become a free agent in 2023 following the expiration of his rookie deal.
Obviously, Jackson is not going to hit the market. If the Ravens can't reach a deal with him, they're just going to lock him for one more year with the franchise tag. The quarterback just might not sign and not play in the 2023 season as he waits to become an unrestricted free agent.
The whole situation is complicated. Lamar does not have an agent to negotiate and he wants a fully guaranteed deal, which is not the most absurd thing in the world. But the Ravens are also right to be cautious with how much-guaranteed money they're offering him because of his unique playstyle, which makes him more susceptible to injuries.
It was understood that Lamar was going to be part of the Ravens' search for a new offensive coordinator, which would obviously help his case to stay in Baltimore. But CBS Sports insider Jonathan Jones says that he wasn't fully integrated into the process:
It's not clear if Lamar Jackson just decided he didn't want to take part in the search or if the Ravens just didn't let him participate. Whatever the reason, it would be an uncommon sight to see a player that's not even signed giving his opinion on the hiring of a new coach.
What's up with Lamar Jackson and the Ravens? Will the Ravens trade Lamar?
Many NFL teams decide to lock up their star quarterbacks as soon as possible, but the Ravens waited longer than normal to extend Lamar. Now they're having a ton of problems.
The longer it goes, the worse it will be for Baltimore. A lot of franchises would give Lamar every penny he wants, and he knows that. If the Ravens don't give him the deal he wants, he can just wait until he becomes a free agent and move elsewhere, with the Ravens losing everything.
Giving a franchise tag to Lamar Jackson and later trading him is a possibility as well. His new team would surely give him a fully guaranteed deal.
