KEY POINTS
The Ravens stay assured of their probabilities in having Lamar Jackson re-sign on a long-term dealRavens GM Eric DeCosta has beforehand expressed his issues concerning the offensive line and secondaryConvincing Jackson might turn into simpler as soon as the staff exhibits enchancment, particularly in defending the quarterback
There is a renewed confidence inside the Baltimore Ravens group that the staff’s No. 1 quarterback Lamar Jackson will signal an extension deal earlier than the 2022-23 season begins.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler supplied an replace relating to the Jackson state of affairs on “Get Up” and that he had spoken with someone inside the franchise with information of the place issues stand between Jackson and the Ravens.
“They’re (Baltimore Ravens) determined to do a long-term deal with Lamar Jackson. They feel confident that it is going to happen eventually, but the Ravens have sort of put this in Lamar Jackson’s court,” stated Fowler. “They said: ‘Hey, when you’re ready to talk some particulars, come back to us. We will hash this out.’ Lamar Jackson has not done that yet. Maybe that’s strategic.”
Jackson and the Ravens have been at this level of their working relationship since contract talks stalled out forward of the beginning of the 2021-22 NFL season.
A serious motive why negotiations have taken so lengthy is as a result of in contrast to {most professional} athletes, Jackson has chosen to characterize himself and determined to forego having an agent.
In layman’s phrases, it signifies that Jackson is the one negotiating his personal offers and dealing with his personal issues in relation to his profession.
Fowler additionally famous that the Ravens have about 5, six months to get a deal performed with Jackson earlier than he will get locked into the final 12 months of his rookie-scale contract and the franchise is extra centered on free company.
The Ravens have 25 free brokers, most of them unrestricted, and normal supervisor Eric DeCosta and his employees have the unenviable job of figuring out which gamers to maintain.
General consensus amongst Ravens followers is that the staff must improve its offensive line throughout the board as they gave up 56 complete sacks, 38 to Jackson, and 18 to backup quarterback Tyler Huntley.
DeCosta just lately acknowledged the necessity to have an improved offensive line and secondary because the Ravens look to make a giant splash within the coming season.
Rumors have additionally surfaced that the staff is also bringing again Ryan Jensen underneath heart who was named to the 2021 Pro Bowl for the primary time in his profession, shifting Bradley Bozeman to one of many deal with spots in the event that they get to re-sign him.
Back in February, Ravens staff author Clifton Brown floated some concepts on the gamers that they might goal in the course of the 2022 NFL draft in late April with their 10 draft picks, together with the 14th total choose.
Should the Ravens make good on their enhancements to the offensive line, Jackson signing a long-term deal might not be that far off.
General supervisor Eric DeCosta of the Baltimore Ravens appears to be like on from the sidelines in opposition to the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on September 29, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. Photo: Rob Carr/Getty Images
