Lamar Jackson knew that the 2022 NFL season was a bet on himself when the star quarterback turned down a five-year extension offer worth over $250 million with $133 million guaranteed at signing with the Baltimore Ravens. Last night’s 27-13 win against the New Orleans Saints in the Caesar’s Superdome also gave Jackson a milestone: his 24-yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end Isaiah Likely on Monday night was the 100th of Jackson’s five-year career.
Jackson also became just the sixth quarterback to achieve the feat of rushing for more than 4,000 yards while simultaneously also having 100 touchdown passes. He now joins a list that includes Steve Young, Randall Cunningham, Russell Wilson, Cam Newton, and Michael Vick, who leads the pack.
That's 💯 for @Lj_era8 ❗️ pic.twitter.com/DRoEB8RJNa
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) November 8, 2022
During last night’s game, Jackson went 5-for-5 for 67 yards and a touchdown on the team’s second possession, directing an 11-play, 76-yard drive. With the addition of veteran wide receiver DeSean Jackson, his completions successfully went to five different targets. In his Ravens debut, DeSean Jackson caught a 16-yarder and at the age of 35 still looked very capable of being the stretch-the-field weapon Jackson desperately needs.
Many believed Jackson was frustrated last night with offensive lineman Ronnie Stanley when a delay of game was called as he was trying to snap the ball. However, the QB rebutted the notion.
“I wasn’t frustrated with my guys, not at all,” Jackson said on ESPN after the win. “I just wanted the ball to be snapped. It is what it is, you know, we’re competitors. Ronnie got on me, but we’re brothers. We’re gonna do that sometimes.”
Baltimore has improved to 6-3 with the win in the Big Easy, with Jackson delivering 133 passing yards and a touchdown pass to go with 82 yards on the ground.
LJ8 Spreading The Wealth
Additionally, 10 different Baltimore players had catches in the game, with no one having more than two receptions. The QB knows this season is pivotal to getting what he wants from the Ravens or any other team. He also represents himself in negotiations, which can be difficult when assessing your own worth.
Lamar Jackson is now 14-1 in career vs the NFC pic.twitter.com/IoLikFir2I
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) November 8, 2022
The extension that Jackson turned down ran through the 2027 season and would have reportedly increased the total value of Jackson’s deal to just under $274 million over six years. Jackson would have played out the $23 million fifth-year option on his rookie deal before the extension started in 2023.
The extension years the Ravens offered would have paid Jackson a higher average salary than the well-publicized deals signed over the summer by Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson and Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray. It also included more money guaranteed at signing.
Lamar Jackson is one of one 👏 pic.twitter.com/vrHG96xfak
— PFF (@PFF) November 8, 2022
However, when the Ravens bucked Jackson’s wish for a fully guaranteed deal at signing, similar to Deshaun Watson’s, it prompted the sides to table their contract talks until after the 2022 season.
The Monday night victory keeps the Ravens first in the AFC North and makes the team feel like a legitimate Super Bowl contender. Not bad for a guy who many said should play running back and couldn’t pass.
