Baltimore, the MVP is back. The Ravens and Lamar Jackson agreed to a five-year deal. On the first day of the 2023 NFL Draft, negotiations ended after two years.
The Ravens' first-round "pick" makes Jackson the NFL's highest-paid player. He said, she said for months.
"A lot of nail biting, head scratching," Jackson remarked in a video breaking the news.
Flock will dominate the next five years. Go baby. Come on. Man, go. I can't wait. Can't wait to light up M&T for five years, dude. Let's go."
His $260 million contract pays $52 million annually. It surpasses Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts' five-year, $255 million ($51 million/year) agreement.
"It was a long, long process, but family is never easy," DeCosta added. We're delighted. "What's our encore?"
Jackson sought a trade March 2. He was franchise-tagged by the Ravens on March 7, enabling him to negotiate with other clubs. Jackson requested a trade one month ago.
The Ravens pursued their former MVP without offers or exchanges. Two weeks ago, the Ravens signed Odell Beckham Jr., which pleased Jackson.
They bonded instantly. On April 17, the Eagles extended Hurts, setting the star quarterback market.
Jackson's skill is unquestionable. He's one of the league's most exciting and winning quarterbacks, and he's helped make the Ravens one of the top teams the last five seasons.
Jackson's 45-16 (.738) record is fourth-best among Super Bowl-era quarterbacks, behind Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady, and Roger Staubach. He was the 2019 NFL MVP
With Jackson in Baltimore for the foreseeable future, the Ravens have their cornerstone and will attempt to overcome the last barrier.
Jackson, who guaranteed Baltimore a Super Bowl when chosen five years ago, has five more years to deliver.