NFL
Breaking down Lamar Jackson's contract: Salary and years left with the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was not long ago the highest-paid player in NFL history, but his path to that paycheck was full of controversy.
In what seems like a crazy move now, quarterback Lamar Jackson sat available as the Baltimore Ravens placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on him back in March of 2023, allowing him to negotiate with other teams. However, the reports were that little to no teams were interested in him, something that was considered strange considering the lightning-fast quarterback is one of the best players in the league, which led to talks of collusion in the NFL. Well, in the end, Jackson finally signed with the Ravens.
But how much did he sign for? And is he still the highest-paid player in the NFL?
The details of the Lamar Jackson contract with the Ravens
In April of 2023, Lamar Jackson signed a five-year contract worth $260 million with a $185 million guarantee and a $72.5 million signing bonus. With an average annual salary of $52 million, Jackson became the highest-paid NFL player of all time. However, that was short-lived.
In the 2024 season, Jackson is earning a base salary of $14.25 million plus a $17.5 million signing bonus. The deal also includes a full no-trade clause as well as a provision which prohibits the Ravens from using the franchise tag on him again after the 2027 season. It’s highly unlikely the Ravens will move on from Jackson at this point as his cap hit of $32.4 million would leave them with $133.85 million in dead cap if they did so now. So it looks like he’s in Baltimore to stay through 2028.
Why was there suspected collusion with Lamar Jackson’s Ravens contract?
The Ravens announced the deal as a contract extension to his one-year, $32.4 million franchise tender, but he actually wasn’t under that contract anymore. Instead, it would be a regular five-year deal, meaning $52 million a year, meaning more than Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who was previously the highest-paid player.
What Jackson had asked for (and the reason there was suspected collusion) was the deal that QB Deshaun Watson got - five years, $230 million, ALL guaranteed. In the end, he got $185,000,000, which is no pocket change.
Who is the highest paid NFL player in 2024?
At the time he signed his contract, Jackson was the highest-paid quarterback, but he’s since been surpassed by several others, starting with Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, who earns $60 million annually after his recent contract extension, making him the highest-paid player in NFL history. Jackson, ranking eighth on the list of highest-paid QBs in 2024, also falls behind Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow ($55 million), Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence ($55 million), Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love ($55 million), Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa ($53.1 million), Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff ($53 million), and Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert ($52.5 million). San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is next in line for a big extension, so with the market constantly rising, all eyes will be on the Niners to see what they do.