3 quarterbacks who could sign contract extensions before Lamar Jackson

Lamar Jackson will pass his self-imposed deadline with no contract extension with the Baltimore Ravens. These QBs could sign contracts before him now.

Lamar Jackson boldly went into negotiations with the Baltimore Ravens with no agency representation, and by the time Friday came, he and the team did not agree on an extension. Jackson has said he will not negotiate on his contract after Friday, so now he’ll play the 2022 season without money locked in for the future.

This does a few things. One: It puts pressure on Jackson to perform at a high level this year. Lines have been drawn comparing Joe Flacco’s decision to not sign an extension with the same team 10 years ago. Flacco led the team to a Super Bowl win and he ended up cashing in big-time with a contract after the season.

Second, it removes insurance for Jackson if he were to sustain a major injury and jeopardize his career.

Thirdly and most importantly for the league as a whole: It keeps the market where it was, which was shaken up twice this summer by the Browns’ decision to fully guarantee $160 million for Deshaun Watson and the Broncos extending Russell Wilson with $165 million in guaranteed money.

Had Jackson come in below those amounts, it could have set the quarterback market — one that progressively gets more and more expensive — back just a bit. Now, the market will remain at the level Watson and Wilson pushed it to… for now.

The Ravens could now franchise tag Jackson next offseason.

So, with that in mind, what quarterbacks will benefit from these market forces and cash in big time? And unfortunately for Jackson, which of them will have a contract before Jackson does?

QBs that could get contract extensions before Lamar Jackson: Jalen Hurts

Jalen Hurts, if he performs this year, could position himself for a big extension with the Philadelphia Eagles. Carson Wentz (and Nick Foles, in the postseason) led the team to a Super Bowl win but fizzled shortly after. Right on the coattails was Hurts, who has stepped in and performed well.

In two seasons Hurts has started 19 games, throwing for over 4,000 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. He came in at eighth overall in approximate value last season and fifth in yards per passing attempt.

Hurts won’t be up there with the $200+ million in total value contracts that have been signed by Watson, Wilson, Kyler Murray, Patrick Mahomes, and Josh Allen, but if he can improve again in his third season, it’ll make sense for Philly to secure him for their future.

Wentz was signed to a 4-year, $128 million contract with the Eagles previously.

Hurts led the Eagles to the postseason last year and will look to do it again in 2022.