Speculation surrounding star quarterbacks is at an all-time high, as although Tom Brady has now announced his retirement, it's not yet known where Lamar Jackson and Aaron Rodgers will be playing next season.
The NFL lost their greatest player of all-time on Wednesday as Brady hung up his boots, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are not the only team looking for a new quarterback. The Las Vegas Raiders have said goodbye to Derek Carr, and the Jackson and Rodgers could yet leave their franchises too.
Jackson's deal with the Baltimore Ravens expires this off-season, and after rejecting an initial contract extension last year, it's not yet known whether both parties will be able to reach an agreement on a new deal. However, according to former NFL star Jason Bell, the Ravens will use their franchise tag to ensure their star player remains in Baltimore.
Jackson was drafted by the Ravens in 2018, and was even named MVP in 2019 after a stunning breakout year with the franchise. Jackson was the second youngest player to receive the prestigious award, with Brady scooping up MVP status at a younger age.
After exercising the fifth year of his initial NFL contract, Jackson turned down a fresh approach due to believing he could improve further, and earn more. The Ravens are running out of time to tie him down, but Bell believes that due to his franchise tag, they'll get a deal done.
"I can’t see Lamar moving on from the Ravens because he has the franchise tag and I think they’ll use it," Bell said to Mirror Sport in association with 888Sport. And the former NFL star even thinks that Jackson could lead them to a Super Bowl if the right team can be built around him.
"He can lead them to a Super Bowl I have no doubt. He’s got the skillset and when you watch him on the field, he can legitimately do anything. It’s about putting the right talent around to help him out, and I don’t think they’ve done that as well as they could have.
"When he’s on, he’s probably one of the best 10 offensive players in the league," Bell concluded. It's likely that the Ravens will have to dig deep into their pockets to secure Jackson though, as their initial offer was anything but small.
Jackson turned down a five-year extension offer worth over $250 million with $133 million guaranteed at signing, according to ESPN. The quarterback feels he is worth more than what they offered, and is playing the waiting game.
Due to Jackson still being on his first NFL contract, his salary is significantly less than those at the top of their game in his position, and may feel as though he deserves extra compensation for that. With the likes of DeShaun Watson, Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson all agreeing huge deals over the past 18 months, it's easy to see why.
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh is unsurprisingly desperate for Jackson to stay, although he's aware it's not in his power. When speaking about Jackson towards the end of their season, he said: "You know I love Lamar. I love everything about Lamar. Always have, always will."
