Lamar Jackson’s leverage in securing a bumper multi-year guaranteed contract took a hit on Wednesday when the Washington Commanders snapped up free agent Jacoby Brissett.
The 2019 MVP has been in the news recently after the Baltimore Ravens decided to slap a ‘non-exclusive’ tag on him which allows him to try and find a team willing to pay the $230 million (£191 million) fully-guaranteed deal he is rumoured to be after. The Ravens would be allowed the opportunity to match an offer, or received two first-round Draft picks as compensation.
But now with the Commanders picking up the former Cleveland Browns man Brissett, and reports that other NFL franchises have cooled on their interest in the 26-year-old, Jackson’s options appear to be dwindling.
Brissett, who is reported to have signed a one-year $10m (£8.3m) deal with the Commanders, will battle it out with second-year QB Sam Howell for the starter's gig. The 30-year-old deputised admirably for the suspended Deshaun Watson for the majority of the 2022 season and had a passer rating of 88.9 in his 16 games. The former Florida state man also threw for 2,608 yards and had 12 touchdowns with six interceptions.
Although Howell has been listed as the starter going into the offseason, competition for the top job is sure to be fierce after Brissett’s arrival.
As for Jackson, his search for a new landing spot goes on. And the clock is ticking for him to either secure a deal with another franchise or finally hammer out a multi-year agreement with the Ravens before the July 17 deadline.
On Tuesday the two-time Pro Bowler finally broke his silence on the matter by responding to a report that he had turned down a $200m (£166m) guaranteed offer from the Ravens in September.
Jackson, who is infamously without an agent, replied: “133/3 years fully guaranteed but I need a agent?” Before adding: “People throw (poop emoji) at the wall and hope it stick.”
NFL Network Insider Mike Garafolo reported on Free Agency Frenzy that the $133m (£110m) fully guaranteed was part of a larger five-year offer, meaning there were non-guaranteed years involved.
And with Jackson reported to be after fully-guaranteed terms, that deal would fall some way short of his rumoured demands and would explain why the player and the Ravens have failed to iron out an agreement after an extensive period of negotiation.
Questions still remain on whether Jackson will even play for the Ravens while on a tag if a multi-year agreement cannot be reached before the July deadline, but what is clear is that the NFL star now has less wiggle room in talks with the organisation.
