Report: Ravens and Lamar Jackson met recently, franchise tag still likely

Posted by Josh Alper on March 6, 2023, 6:41 AM EST
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The Ravens and quarterback Lamar Jackson do not appear to be on track for a last-minute agreement on a long-term deal.

Tuesday is the deadline for teams to use the franchise tag and that appears to be the direction things are headed in Baltimore. Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports that Ravens General Manager Eric DeCosta met with Jackson in Miami recently, but that the quarterback and the team remain apart when it comes to a long-term deal.

With that gap in place, a franchise tag is the likeliest direction for things to go in Baltimore. It’s not clear if the Ravens would use the exclusive or non-exclusive tag, but the former would be worth about $13 million more for Jackson during the 2023 season.

That decision will be one of the most-watched developments in the football world over the next couple of days.

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11 responses to “Report: Ravens and Lamar Jackson met recently, franchise tag still likely”

  1. Lamar should not sign long term with the Ravens. The team has been incapable of building a winning roster while Lamar was on a rookie contract. More egregiously, the Ravens have been feeding the false rumors that Lamar quit last year.

  3. Use the exclusive tag then trade him to the highest bidder. He quit on his teammates and the Baltimore fans. Plus, all he has ever won is individual awards – which I and most football fans could care less about unless they are accompanied with a Super Bowl trophy which will never happen if he is determined to used up so much of the salary cap. Bye, bye Lamar.

  4. The Ravens learned a hard lesson making Flacco the highest paid in the league ten years ago. It crippled them cap-wise for years. They won’t do that again.

  5. Lamar Jackson isn’t a bad QB at all, but he’s just not worth what he thinks he’s worth and those dollar signs in his eyes are telling the Ravens it’s time to move on. Exclusive tag will be showing up shortly, 3 first rounders and he is someone else’s headache.

  6. footballbaby says:
    March 6, 2023 at 8:55 am
    The Ravens learned a hard lesson making Flacco the highest paid in the league ten years ago. It crippled them cap-wise for years. They won’t do that again

    ================================================

    Big Difference is that Flacco was being carried by a talented roste while Jackson is the one carrying a mediocre one. Let’s not forget the last time when saw Flacco in a Raven uniform they were 4-5 he was injured and they were on the verge of missing the playoffs for the 4th consecutive season, firing Harbaugh and rebuilding. Then Jackson took over and they have played .700 football since. We all saw how historically bad their offense was without Jackson. He can’t be replaced as easily as Flacco. He is the guy that gives you a top 5 offense despite paying all of your skill players combined less than Tyreek Hill.

  7. There was this tweet out there a couple days ago about the most expensive offenses in the league. Ravens came in at 31st. Even with all that and surrounding Jackson with nothing but scrubs, he has a 45-16 overall record as a starting QB. You mean to tell me someone like Dak Prescott is worth more than Jackson? Its ridiculous. All he does is win games.

  8. mikecrabtreeschain says:
    March 6, 2023 at 9:28 am

    Big Difference is that Flacco was being carried by a talented roste while Jackson is the one carrying a mediocre one.

    ====

    Nah. Flacco was clutch in big games and did very well in the playoffs – he was 10-5 in the playoffs and played very well in those games.

    You can’t have it both ways – if Jackson is responsible for their regular-season wins, he’s also responsible for their postseason failures. It can’t just magically be a bad roster every time something goes wrong.

    If he’s as good as you say, free agents should be flocking to join him, yet it seems that players only leave over time, while other QBs are a magnet.

    Meanwhile, Mahomes still achieves at a high level even when his #1 receiver leaves and the rest of the WR/RB roster constantly turns over with largely leftovers and rookies.

  9. footballbaby says:
    March 6, 2023 at 8:55 am

    The Ravens learned a hard lesson making Flacco the highest paid in the league ten years ago. It crippled them cap-wise for years. They won’t do that again.

    ====

    And that was for a guy who had won a Super Bowl and built a terrific playoff record. How much do they want to sink into a guy who hasn’t won anything and hasn’t even finished a season for 3 years?

  10. This is a train wreck. If they can’t reach a long-term deal now, what makes them think they will reach one after a franchise tag? And if LJ’s asking for too much, what team will give him what the Ravens won’t PLUS two 1st round picks? Ravens know what they have and if they’re not willing to pony up, other teams are taking notice. Most likely outcome is no deal, franchise tag, and then LJ sitting out.

  11. evpft says:
    March 6, 2023 at 9:43 am
    mikecrabtreeschain says:
    March 6, 2023 at 9:28 am

    Big Difference is that Flacco was being carried by a talented roste while Jackson is the one carrying a mediocre one.

    ====

    Nah. Flacco was clutch in big games and did very well in the playoffs – he was 10-5 in the playoffs and played very well in those games.

    You can’t have it both ways – if Jackson is responsible for their regular-season wins, he’s also responsible for their postseason failures. It can’t just magically be a bad roster every time something goes wrong.

    If he’s as good as you say, free agents should be flocking to join him, yet it seems that players only leave over time, while other QBs are a magnet.

    Meanwhile, Mahomes still achieves at a high level even when his #1 receiver leaves and the rest of the WR/RB roster constantly turns over with largely leftovers and rookies.

    ============================================================

    Sure you can if the team has no business making the playoffs. They lost every game without Jackson except when playing Mitch Trubisky or Desmond Ridder and failed to score 20 points even once this season without him. Flacco was successful when the team was loaded. 4 hall of fame defensive players and pro bowl players everywhere on offense. As soon as the talent dipped they miss the playoffs three consecutive season and were on the verge of a 4th until Jackson showed up. This team is decidedly not loaded and without Jackson they were the worst offense since 2009. This games is an extremely small sample and Jackson has the same record as Peyton Manning through 4 playoff games and turned ok.

    Also who are these magnets for WR? Every one else either drafted or traded for their wide receivers. Guys like Tua,Burrow, Hurts and Allen looked like busts before Hill,Chase, Brown and Diggs showed up and have combined for zero playoffs wins without them. Free agents flock to money and the Ravens spend theirs on defense. Hill and Adams had no problem leaving Rodgers and Mahomes for more money.

    Mahomes is in a class by himself even still the Chiefs replaced Hill with a 25 year old former probowler, a 2nd round pick, and acquired a 2021 1st round pick.These are not leftovers.

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