Over the past month, the connection between the Baltimore Ravens and Lamar Jackson has been rocky to say the least.
Now Baltimore hopes the signing of broad receiver Odell Beckham Jr. will assist mend fences between the 2 sides.
Earlier than the March 7 deadline, the Ravens positioned the franchise tag on Jackson after failing to succeed in a long-term settlement. Then weeks later, in the course of the NFL Annual Conferences in Phoenix, Jackson tweeted he had requested the Ravens to commerce himx. This was minutes after coach John Harbaugh started talking to the media.
“You’ve bought two sides that respect one another,” Harbaugh mentioned final month. “Lamar believes in us and we consider in Lamar.
“It’s a financial factor that may be found out, that may be labored out. That’s only a matter of negotiating. It’s a singular state of affairs, it’s totally different than most years.
“It is a contract state of affairs… I’m trying ahead to getting again to the traditional methods of doing issues.”
Time hasn’t healed outdated wounds as final week, throughout a pre-draft press convention with the media, Ravens public relations lower off a query about Jackson from an area reporter asking in regards to the staff’s draft plans. Days later, Baltimore gave Beckham a deal he couldn’t refuse with a go to to the Jets on his agenda.
If Beckham could make Jackson completely satisfied, then overpaying him is value it.
Baltimore and Beckham agreed to a one-year contract that might be value as much as $18 million on Sunday. Shortly after the deal was introduced, Jackson confirmed pleasure as he and the Ravens posted a photograph of him Face-Timing with Beckham.
High quality broad receivers and the Ravens have gone collectively like oil and water in recent times. Nonetheless, after Beckham Jr. agreed to come back aboard, each side are hoping it might probably change that. Baltimore has had just one broad receiver register over 1,000 yards since 2016 and that was Marquise Brown in 2021.
The Ravens are hoping Beckham can regain the shape that he confirmed in Tremendous Bowl LVI when he caught two passes for 52 yards and a landing earlier than tearing his ACL. That was the final time Beckham noticed stay motion as he went unsigned final 12 months whereas nonetheless recovering from his harm.
One profit for Beckham is he'll play in an offense he's aware of. Todd Monken is the Ravens’ new offensive coordinator and he coached Beckham in 2019 when he held the identical function with the Browns.
That 12 months was Beckham’s finest season with the Browns and final 12 months ending over 1,000 yards. He ended the marketing campaign with 74 receptions for 1,035 yards and 4 touchdowns.
After tearing his ACL in 2020, Beckham fell out with the Browns after which quarterback Baker Mayfield the next 12 months as he was launched and later signed by the Rams as he helped information them to a Tremendous Bowl title. If Beckham can keep wholesome, he would give the Ravens one thing they haven’t had in years, a authentic exterior menace to associate with three-time Professional Bowl tight finish Mark Andrews.
The issue with Beckham is he hasn’t been wholesome as two ACL accidents since 2020 have restricted him to simply 67 catches for 856 yards and eight touchdowns over the last three years.
Baltimore added Nelson Agholor this offseason to be its slot receiver, which ought to assist take some stress off Beckham together with having Andrews. The staff additionally has third-year participant Rashod Bateman, who has proven promise in restricted responsibility. Nonetheless, Bateman has suffered groin and foot accidents throughout his first two years within the league.
If the trio of Beckham, Agholor and Bateman can keep wholesome, they'd be by far probably the most dynamic receiver group Jackson has performed with throughout his time within the league. On this 12 months’s draft, Baltimore may nonetheless add extra weapons to encompass Jackson. Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba, USC’s Jordan Addison, or Boston School’s Zay Flowers might be potential choices at choose No. 22 total.
The elephant within the room continues to be if the Ravens and Jackson will conform to a long-term deal. If Jackson indicators his non-exclusive franchise tender, he'll obtain $32.416 million assured in 2023.
Baltimore and Jackson have till July 17 to work out a long-term extension with the Ravens. If they can't, Jackson must play on the franchise tag subsequent season, which wouldn’t be the worst factor on this planet.
Positive, Jackson has been claiming for a brand new contract for years. But when he takes the Kirk Cousins route, it may finally repay for him.
After Washington franchise tagged him in consecutive seasons in 2016 and 2017, Cousins signed a completely assured three-year contract value $84 million with the Vikings in 2018. He later signed a one-year, $35 million totally assured, and Cousins bought a $40 million increase final season.
Jackson’s well being has been a priority, which is among the causes the Ravens are reluctant to present him a completely assured contract, very similar to the five-year, $230 million deal Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson obtained final 12 months. Jackson tweeted final September that he turned down Baltimore’s three-year contract supply, $133 million totally assured.
Who is aware of what have an effect on Beckham’s signing may have on Jackson. But when he decides to withdraw his commerce request, the Ravens and Jackson may have a particular season.
That would later result in Jackson receiving hundreds of thousands of totally assured cash at any time when he does obtain that extension.
()