The 2023 NFL regular season will come to a close in less than two weeks and the postseason will commence. In February, the league will then determine the winners of their various awards, including the honor of Most Valuable Player.
There have been several standouts this season but New York Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale has it narrowed down to two — one of whom he will face this coming Sunday.
“I think that (Matthew) Stafford is playing at a Hall of Fame-type level,” Martindale told reporters on Thursday. “He’s a great football player, but I think that he and (Ravens quarterback) Lamar (Jackson) should be up for the MVP candidate.”
As of right now, the Ravens lead the AFC and have already clinched a playoff berth. Unless something drastic happens, they’ll likely be the top seed in the conference and secure a Wild Card Week bye. Jackson is a dual-threat quarterback who has amassed over 3,300 yards passing and nearly 800 yards on the ground in 2023.
Stafford, whom the Giants will get a good look at on Sunday, is a pocket passer currently ranked 8th in the NFL with over 3,600 passing yards. Not much of a ground threat, Stafford uses his arm to get down the field. What gives him an edge over other quarterbacks is the consistency in his play and his ability to spread the love between his receivers.
This year’s MVP race is different because there’s not really one single player who stands out above the rest. Patrick Mahomes has been okay, Aaron Rodgers played all of four snaps, Tom Brady is retired, and no one else has stepped in to steal the show.
Wink has faced a multitude of quarterbacks over the years, and as a defensive guy, he can certainly tell you which quarterbacks are good and which are easier to prepare for. Stafford and Jackson are very different quarterbacks, but both are future Hall of Famers and both are having MVP-like seasons.
The MVP race should be fun to watch this year and it will be interesting to see who ends up with the prestigious award.
In one of the most controversial draft picks in franchise history, the New York Giants selected running back Saquon Barkley second overall in the 2018 NFL draft.
Barkley got off to stellar start with Big Blue, earning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. However, immediately after that, Barkley was hit with the injury bug prior to bouncing back in 2022.
A debate raged before the 2018 draft about whether the Giants should draft a quarterback. Ultimately, they did not, opting to take Barkley to boost their offense. But I made the easy choice to instead take the 2019 unanimous NFL MVP in Jackson. He is the most electric quarterback in the game — he leads the league in quarterback rush yards since 2018 (4,435) — and would have been unstoppable in current coach Brian Daboll’s offense.
Of course, when the Giants took Barkley, Eli Manning was still under center and they were still trying to win with their current roster — they were just a year removed from an 11-5 record under Ben McAdoo.
The New York Giants held the second overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft and — depending on who you ask — fumbled it when they used it to take Penn State running back Saquon Barkley.
Many Giants fans will dispute that, but when presented with a possible ‘re-draft’ scenario, would have done something different with the pick.
This one is actually tough. Saquon Barkley has been a great player at times for the Giants over five seasons. Quarterback Daniel Jones, whom the Giants drafted sixth overall the following year, teamed with Barkley to lead the G-Men to the postseason in 2022.
Still, you just don’t pass on drafting an MVP quarterback like Lamar Jackson.
Since that magical season in 2019 when he rushed for a quarterback single-season record 1,206 yards and led the league with 36 touchdown passes, Jackson has been unable to duplicate those gaudy numbers. He has also missed substantial time in each of the past two seasons. But he’s the only quarterback in NFL history to rush for over 1,000 yards in back-to-back years and one of the most dangerous offensive threats in the league.
That Jackson’s No. 1 receiver in New York in 2018 would have been Odell Beckham Jr. is proof that time is a flat circle.
This is a tough call because both players have been beset by injuries in their careers and many would say neither is worth the second pick.
Part of Jackson’s lure is that he wasn’t taken that high (No. 32 overall by Baltimore) which added to his initial value. Taking him second overall back then would have been controversial and panned by the fans.
PHOENIX — There has been some thought that the Jets should pivot to Lamar Jackson if things don’t work out with Aaron Rodgers or to put a scare into the Packers to make something happen.
Jets general manager Joe Douglas put an end to that discussion on Monday at the league meetings.
“First of all, Lamar Jackson is a fantastic player,” Douglas said. “But where we stand is it would be disingenuous and operating, negotiating in bad faith if we went down the path. Right now, we have our plan, we have our process and we’re sticking to that.”
If he does switch teams, don’t count on the Jets being where he lands.
Jets coach Robert Saleh confirmed that Zach Wilson will be the team’s backup quarterback this season.
“He’s our No. 2,” Saleh said. “I really still think Zach has a future in this league to be a really good quarterback. He has the work ethic. He has the mindset. He’s coming in here to attack it. We’re counting on him to be a fixture here for a while.”
Zach WilsonBill Kostroun/New York Post
Douglas commented on last week’s trade of WR Elijah Moore to the Browns. The Jets sent Moore and a third-round pick to Cleveland for the Browns’ second-round pick.
“That was a tough decision because obviously Elijah is a really good player and a young player and on a cap-friendly deal,” Douglas said. “I think it was just a situation that came up where we had a flood of calls, nothing really serious. Cleveland was aggressive in their pursuit. Ultimately, we felt like this was an opportunity to bring value that we needed back to the team and back to the draft while also giving Elijah a great opportunity in Cleveland.”
Douglas provided a small update on where things stand with a contract extension for DT Quinnen Williams.
“There’s been a few conversations since I last spoke to you guys at the combine,” Douglas said. “I would say we’re in a positive place there. No exact timeline for when that’s going to get done but I’ve had good conversations with [agent] Nicole [Lynn] and still feel like that’s in a positive place.”
No, it’s not about his potential new contract, possible new team, or anything related to his play on the field or negotiations off of it.
It’s an actual scoop of ice cream, made to support him in search of a long-awaited new deal with the Ravens.
The Charmery, a Baltimore-based ice cream shop, has debuted a new flavor on their menu called “Pay Lamar,” which is essentially peanut butter and caramel ice cream with chocolate chips and roasted peanuts.
Think PAYDAY the candy bar — but with more of a confrontational connotation.
Charmery ice cream shop in Baltimore, who debuted a new flavor, PAY LAMAR, in support of Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson returning to the team on a new contract. @TheCharmery on Instagram
As a result, they’ll have until July 17 to reach a multi-year extension before that number becomes permanent for the 2023 season.
Under league rules, Jackson is free to negotiate with other teams, but his options could be thinning as the Carolina Panthers have traded up for the No. 1 overall pick and the Miami Dolphins exercised oft-injured signal-caller Tua Tagovailoa’s fifth-year option, which will pay him a fully guaranteed $23.4 million in 2024.
The Charmery’s owner, and longtime Ravens fan, David Alima said that he and his friends “love Lamar [Jackson] and want to see him stay in Baltimore,” according to The Baltimore Banner.
The Ravens placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Lamar Jackson.Tribune News Service via Getty Images Lamar Jackson (8) was the NFL’s MVP award winner in 2019.Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
“[Jackson] deserves every bit of money that he feels he deserves. Whatever he thinks he’s worth, I’m in agreement with him,” Alima added.
“I don’t proclaim to know the inside workings of the business,” continued Alima, who has owned The Charmery for over 10 years with his wife, Laura, according to the report.
“All I know is that Lamar is worth every single penny that he feels he’s deserved. That’s why I want to pay him.”
As Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline looms for NFL teams to use the franchise tag on players, all eyes remain on Lamar Jackson.
Baltimore and Jackson were poised to continue to talk about a long-term deal right up to that deadline, Ravens executive vice president Ozzie Newsome told “The Bernie Kosar Show” on Monday.
The superstar quarterback and the Ravens have been in talks for a lucrative contract extension each of the last two offseasons, but haven’t been able to reach common ground.
Head coach John Harbaugh and GM Eric DeCosta have made their intent for a long-term deal clear, but there’s seemingly still a large gap — particularly over guaranteed money — between the two sides.
If he’s tagged, Jackson will earn a guaranteed $32.4 million on a one-year deal.
Lamar Jackson and the Ravens will negotiate over a long-term deal right up to the franchise tag deadline. AP
Elsewhere, the Cowboys tagged breakout running back Tony Pollard after he recorded 1,007 rushing yards, 371 receiving yards, nine rushing touchdowns and three receiving touchdowns. All were career-highs.
The tag will pay Pollard a guaranteed $10.09 million for one season.
After previously not picking up his fifth-year option, the Raiders officially tagged running back Josh Jacobs, who led the league in rushing yards and yards from scrimmage last year, on Monday.
Lamar Jackson and the Ravens have tried to. reach common ground each of the last two offseasons. Getty Images
He’ll earn the same $10.09 million for one season as Pollard, giving both their respective teams another season to weigh a long-term deal and prove their breakout seasons weren’t anomalies.
Polarizing ex-Giants tight end Evan Engram enjoyed his own career year with the Jaguars (73 catches for 766 yards, both career-highs).
In return, the Jaguars slapped the tag on him Monday, earning him $11.35 million guaranteed for one year.
Evan Engram enjoyed a career year in his first season with the Jaguars. Getty Images
The Commanders will continue to negotiate with star defensive tackle Daron Payne, but the team tagged him Monday.
If Washington doesn’t reach a long-term deal, Payne will earn $18.94 million guaranteed for one year.
As they try to sort out their salary cap, the Chiefs have decided not to franchise tag left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., which will allow him to become an unrestricted free agent.
Who would’ve predicted Tom Brady joining the losingest franchise in NFL history when the 2020 NFL offseason began?
Who could have foreseen that Jared Goff-Matthew Stafford swap that later decided a Super Bowl when the 2021 NFL offseason began?
Who would’ve imagined that Matt Ryan and Russell Wilson would be dealt out of the NFC and into the loaded AFC when the 2022 NFL offseason began?
What’s next? Brady’s retirement this week started the 2023 NFL quarterback carousel spinning a bit earlier than expected. Let’s have some fun with the “all hell breaks loose” version of quarterback movement, including teams with new starters from trades, free agency or the draft.
Panthers: Daniel Jones
The Giants are acting as if the return of their QB free agent is a formality before even beginning negotiations. What if the price tag exceeds $40 million per year and $140 million guaranteed? The franchise tag’s $32 million salary-cap hit is restrictive, and the new regime has enough fan equity to paint Jones’ ask as unreasonable while starting over. Jones’ hometown Panthers — bold in moves for Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield — jump in, and an old photo of Jones in a Jake Delhomme jersey goes viral.
Daniel Jones grew up in Charlotte, and didn’t leave the state of North Carolina when he selected Duke for college.Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Giants: Will Levis
Following the script he helped write with the Bills in 2018, general manager Joe Schoen trades up twice to get from No. 26 into the top 10 of the draft to pick a high-ceiling, strong-armed, inconsistently accurate passer, hoping head coach Brian Daboll can mold Kentucky’s Levis into Josh Allen 2.0.
Falcons: Lamar Jackson
Fed up after two years of fruitless extension negotiations, the Ravens franchise-tag Jackson. Falcons owner Arthur Blank — who built a close friendship with Michael Vick — sees Jackson as a carbon copy and OKs dealing three first-round picks and fully guaranteeing a new contract, copying the Browns’ move to beat the Falcons in the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes last offseason.
Ravens: Bryce Young
Suddenly flush with draft capital, including No. 8 overall, the Ravens turn around and trade for the No. 1 pick and Alabama’s Young because the Bears are true to early leaks that they plan to build around third-year quarterback Justin Fields. Firing offensive coordinator Greg Roman — who built the run-first, tight-end-heavy offenses for Colin Kaepernick and Jackson — was the first sign of a shift to a more pro-style offense.
Bryce Young, a recent Sugar Bowl winner, could be the first quarterback selected this year.Getty Images
49ers: Aaron Rodgers
It’s easy for the Packers to say that Aaron Rodgers only will be dealt in the AFC. But this franchise handled facing Brett Favre on the Vikings for two years at the end of his career. So, if the 49ers make the best offer because of real fears that Trey Lance can’t stay healthy and Brock Purdy won’t be healthy in time to prove he’s no fluke, are the Packers going to say no? It’s interesting that Rodgers quipped “I’m not going to San Fran” on Thursday while golfing. Why was that on his mind?
Packers: Jordan Love
Can the Packers really strike gold twice? Trading Favre worked out because it turned out they had a Hall of Famer in Rodgers sitting on their bench for three seasons. It’s a lot to ask Love to repeat history, but the Packers need to play him to find out if he can be the future — instead of a wasted first-round pick that could’ve been a much-needed receiver — in the final year of his contract.
Texans: Trey Lance
If the Jets’ Robert Saleh and Dolphins’ Mike McDaniel taught us anything, it’s that former 49ers assistants take players with them to new jobs. The Texans hold the No. 2 pick, but defensive end Will Anderson or defensive tackle Jalen Carter would be a foundational piece for new head coach DeMeco Ryans’ defense if he can convince the front office to take a chance on Lance instead of drafting Levis or C.J. Stroud.
Patriots: Jimmy Garoppolo
Garoppolo might have more suitors than anyone because of his ties to the prolific Bill Belichick and Kyle Shanahan coaching trees. Ultimately, Belichick gets the quarterback he has wanted ever since drafting Garoppolo in 2014, when he thought Brady was near retirement. Garoppolo never worked with returning Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien. The egoless Bailey Zappe develops behind Garoppolo.
Could Jimmy Garoppolo wear Patriots gear again, just like he was in this photo from minicamp in 2014?Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty
Raiders: Mac Jones
General manager Dave Ziegler and head coach Josh McDaniels are going to dip into their Patriots roots to replace Derek Carr. If going all-in for Brady was Plan A and luring Garoppolo was Plan B, what is Plan C? Calling the Patriots to say, “Isn’t it redundant to have two young backups like Jones and Zappe?” McDaniels coached Jones as a rookie before his step back in Year 2.
Jets: Derek Carr
After missing out on Rodgers, Carr is a fine consolation prize, especially because he doesn’t cost any assets other than money after forcing the Raiders into releasing him to save salary-cap space by exercising his no-trade clause. Carr’s brother, David, was Eli Manning’s three-year backup, and convinces him that New York is a great place to win.
Colts: C.J. Stroud
Outbid for the No. 1 pick or Fields in talks with the Bears, the Colts stay put at No. 4 and seek to end the game of musical chairs that has seen seven different Week 1 quarterbacks in seven years by adding Ohio State’s Stroud to the lineage of Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck.
Saints: Matt Ryan
A brief flirtation with retirement after a one-year disaster with the Colts is scratched when Ryan sees a chance to again rule the moribund NFC South, only from the other side of the Falcons-Saints rivalry. Call time of death on the Andy Dalton-Jameis Winston-Taysom Hill rotation.
Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson is one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2023 draft.Getty Images
Buccaneers: Ryan Tannehill
What does life after Brady look like? Re-sign free agent Blaine Gabbert? Turn to former second-round pick Kyle Trask for his first career start? It makes more sense for a veteran team with now-or-never head coach Todd Bowles to make a run at the division title while all other teams are down by trading for the final year of Tannehill’s contract.
Titans: Anthony Richardson
Who is going to fall in love with Richardson’s tantalizing, but raw, skillset? How about new general manager Ran Carthon, who was part of the 49ers’ decision to draft Lance — who had one season with more than 100 passes thrown since high school in 2017 — based on potential?
Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard rang in February with a 42-point outburst in a win over the Grizzlies in Memphis. Did you notice? Probably not. After all, he had already started the week with a different 42-point outing in a win over the Hawks. That night, he had company on the night’s scoring leaderboard from Atlanta’s Dejounte Murray, who had 40, and Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic, who poured in 53 against the woebegone Pistons.
On Thursday night, Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo went one better, dropping 54 in a one-point victory over the Clippers — his third 50-burger in his past 11 games.
In total, there have been 122 individual 40-point games this season. The record is 142, set more than 60 years ago when Wilt Chamberlain, then of the Philadelphia Warriors, recorded 63 40-point nights on his own (h/t NBA.com’s John Schuhmann). It doesn’t take a math wizard to see that with the season not even at the All-Star break, the league should fly past that mark set in the 1961-62 season. We’re on pace for a total of 192 individual games of 40 points or better, well past even the more modern-day mark of 137 during the 2018-19 season.
Damian Lillard’s 42-point outburst is far from an anomaly this season.Getty Images
To what do we owe this offensive bounty? Let’s take a quick look.
Defense optional: The Cavaliers have the league’s best defense, per defensive rating, allowing 109.7 points per 100 possessions. As noted recently on ESPN’s Hoop Collective podcast, that number would have ranked closer to the bottom third of the league than the top as recently as five seasons ago (21st, to be exact). And the 2017-18 season wasn’t exactly filled with Knicks-Bulls slugfests. That’s partly a result of coaches deploying more offensively inclined lineups, partly the result of rest days taking some of the best players (and their defensive capabilities) off the floor and partly the result of evolving rules limiting the amount of potential shot-changing contact defenders can make.
Skills kill: Look at the roster at almost any team and you can find someone capable of going off on any random night. Yes, there are the Doncics, the Antetokounmpos and the Jayson Tatums, but you also have the Zach LaVines (three 40-point nights) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexanders (also three 40-point nights) and even the Caris LeVerts — who can score from almost anywhere on the floor (more on that in a second). That’s not just a coincidence, but the result of a basketball development culture that has players working with skills coaches and honing their games as early as elementary school. Don’t take it from me, but a four-time title-winning coach, too.
Three is the magic number: It’s not exactly news that teams are relying on the 3-pointer more than ever, but just take a look at the past decade: The average number of 3s made per game per team is up to 12.3 this season, from 7.2 in 2012-13. On Wednesday night, for example, Tatum likely would have easily posted his eighth(!) 40-point or better game had the Celtics not run the Nets off the floor from the opening tip. Though he finished with 31 for the night, Tatum tallied 18 of those points in the first quarter, and finished with seven made 3s.
Some may bemoan the lack of defense all these numbers suggest. Some may claim this is the result of the game looking more and more like Pop-A-Shot. Some of us just want to enjoy the skills on display. But the game is different. The 3 has become the new-age dunk. Better get out your calculators.
— Paul Forrester
It turns out a person can be two places at once
Wearing an Islanders jersey after more than eight seasons as a Vancouver Canuck will be strange for Bo Horvat. It will be equally strange for fans at All-Star weekend, where the NHL has kept Horvat on the Pacific Division team despite his new associations.
Horvat will don an Islanders Fisherman jersey at the Skills Challenge on Friday night. Then, at Saturday’s All-Star Game, he will play for the Pacific — the NHL’s way of splitting the baby in a situation where there is not an obvious solution.
“I don’t know how they came up with everything,” Horvat said. “I was just happy to be here. All this unfolded. They basically asked me if I still wanted to come. Of course I wanted to come and enjoy the weekend. And then they worked out the logistics after that.”
Bo Horvat will represent both the Canucks and Islanders at various points during All-Star weekend.NHLI via Getty Images
Saturday will give Horvat a chance to skate with now-former teammate Elias Pettersson again (Horvat, by the way, endorsed Pettersson to replace him as captain of the Canucks).
“It’s gonna be fun and weird and awesome at the same time,” Horvat said. “I don’t really know how to approach it or how to talk about it, but I’m excited for it. Excited to skate with him at least on the same team for the last time, unless we join teams again later down in our careers. Really excited to see him.”
Our NFL betting expert brings you his best Ravens vs. Giants predictions and picks for their NFL Week 6 showdown, which is live Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on CBS.
The Baltimore Ravens can thank Justin Tucker for another game-winning field goal in Week 5. This week they’ll look to tighten their grip on the AFC North lead with another win, this time against the surprising New York Giants (4-1), who are back from London with a victory over the Green Bay Packers in hand.
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Giants vs. Ravens picks and analysis
The Ravens (3-2) walked away with a 19-17 victory over the visiting Cincinnati Bengals last week thanks to Justin Tucker’s dead-center, 43-yard field goal as time expired. The win put them one game ahead of Cincinnati and Cleveland in their division. Now Lamar Jackson and company head to MetLife Stadium for the second time this season. The Ravens beat the Jets there 24-9 in the season opener and are 2-0 on the road this year.
Big Blue beat Aaron Rodgers and the Packers last week. The Giants haven’t had a start this strong since they opened the 2009 season 5-0, and between new coach Brian Daboll and the resurgence of Saquon Barkley, fans are believers.
Saquon BarkleyGetty Images
Giants +5.5
Call up the Guinness Book of World Records, people. We need to see if 5.5 points makes New York the largest 4-1 home underdog in NFL history.
Never mind — the Giants are, in fact, six-point underdogs at BetMGM and DraftKings as of Thursday morning. Vegas clearly favors Jackson and the Baltimore offense over Daniel Jones and the Giants, not to mention the Ravens’ defense has played solidly in the past few weeks.
But it’s still a pretty eye-opening surprise to see New York, fresh off a neutral-field victory over the Packers that legitimized them as a playoff contender in the eyes of many, be shown this disrespect.
The only other concern here is the Giants’ travel schedule. They’re back on the field this week after their trip to London — in years past, teams playing in Europe had the benefit of a bye week directly after the trip to recuperate. No doubt the Ravens have an easier week in terms of keeping their minds and bodies fresh.
Still, facing that spread, we’ll take the Giants to keep it close if not win outright. Daboll’s swagger and Barkley’s legs have helped them close out games with authority, while we haven’t forgotten Baltimore’s late-game meltdowns against Miami and Buffalo.
Our Pick: Giants to cover +5.5
Betting on the NFL?
Lamar JacksonGetty Images
Under 45 total points
When Giants-Packers surpassed 41.5 total points, it was the first time since Week 16 of last season that a Giants game hit the over. They’d had five unders and one push in the time since.
New York isn’t beating teams with dynamic offense. Last week’s 27 points marked the club’s highest-scoring output of the year. Barkley is good for 100 yards a game and either he, Jones or Gary Brightwell might score a rushing touchdown from the red zone, but that’s not going to run up the score on anyone.
Though Daboll came from a pass-happy attack with Josh Allen in Buffalo, he’s working with what he has in New York. The Giants have run 30 more times than they’ve passed, and Giants players have combined for only six receiving plays of 20 yards or more. All of this is a recipe for low-scoring affairs.
The Ravens have shown they can drop 37-38 points on an opponent, but in the past two weeks they’ve averaged 19.5. Jackson’s five interceptions are tied for fourth-most in the league and are liable to kill would-be scoring drives.
Our Pick: Under 45 points scored
Highest scoring quarter: Third quarter +460
This prop is a fun change-of-pace, as it asks you to bet on which quarter will see the most points scored between the teams. Any of the four options promise a decent-to-great payout if you’re right.
The Giants are slow starters on offense. They’ve averaged just 6.6 points in the first halves of games thus far. The third quarter has been their highest-scoring quarter this year – a combined 36 points, including 13 in their Week 1 comeback against Tennessee and 10 in Week 3 against the Cowboys.
The Ravens neither start nor finish games particularly strongly. Baltimore has scored just one fourth-quarter touchdown in five games and are averaging just 3 points per fourth quarter. The middle of the game is where they’re strongest, scoring 48 combined points in second quarters and 41 total points in third quarters.
In a game like this, featuring two teams who love to run the ball, expect there to be an early feeling-out period before they really start to strike blows against one another after halftime.
Our Pick: Third quarter to be the highest-scoring quarter +460
Giants vs. Ravens odds
Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook. Correct at time of publishing and subject to change.
Like Yankees superstar Aaron Judge, Lamar Jackson has bet on himself rather than accept the Ravens’ long-term contract offer.
Jackson, who will face the Jets in Sunday’s season opener at MetLife Stadium, turned down a five-year extension offer worth over $250 million with $133 million guaranteed this week, ESPN reported.
Jackson, the 2019 NFL MVP, is slated to earn $23 million on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract, and the extension would have kicked in next season.
The average annual salary and guaranteed money at signing would have exceeded the deals landed this summer by star quarterbacks Kyler Murray with Arizona and Russell Wilson with Denver. But the 25-year-old Jackson — who represented himself in negotiations — sought a fully-guaranteed deal like the one Deshaun Watson signed (worth $230 million) with Cleveland in June. The Ravens still can retain Jackson’s rights for 2023 by applying their franchise tag on the two-time Pro Bowler.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson looks on after a preseason game against the Commanders.Getty Images
“Despite best efforts on both sides, we were unable to reach a contract extension with Lamar Jackson,” Ravens GM Eric DeCosta said Friday in a statement after negotiations were tabled until the conclusion of the season. “We greatly appreciate how he has handled this process and we are excited about our team with Lamar leading the way.
“We will continue to work towards a long-term contract after the season, but for now we are looking forward to a successful 2022 campaign.”
Jackson has posted a 37-12 record as a starter as Baltimore’s starting quarterback since the middle of the 2018 season, but they have dropped three of four postseason games in that span.
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