Lamar Jackson to become Ravens quarterback in 2023, ex-sports agent says

Questions about what the future holds for Lamar Jackson are definitely at the top of the list of topics to be discussed at today’s Season Review press conference with head coach Jon Harbaugh and general manager Eric DeCoster. .

While there’s no shortage of heated opinions and speculation about Jackson’s contract status, former sports agent Joel Corrie of CBS Sports took a pragmatic approach in his analysis. We concluded that he would be the Ravens’ quarterback.

That would require the Ravens to franchise Jackson if a long-term deal, which both the Ravens and Jackson said was a goal this past offseason, isn’t finalized.

“Since the regular season began, nothing has convinced me that Jackson won’t be with the Ravens next season,” Corrie wrote. It seems to have been a year of calculation for the dynamics of

The Ravens must apply their exclusive or non-exclusive franchise tag between February 21st and March 7th. The exclusive tag will cost more ($32.5 million versus his estimated $45 million), but it will leave Jackson unable to negotiate with other teams. A non-exclusive tag means the Ravens could match or reach a deal with another team that could get them two first-round picks.

Corry said to avoid the risk of injury and to express frustration at the lack of long-term guarantees, Jackson will not play under an exclusive franchise bid, but will compete in 2023. said that you can choose

“Giving up about $45 million would be an interesting decision given Jackson’s career earnings from signing NFL players,” Corry wrote. “Jackson made just under $32.5 million in five NFL seasons, and the franchise’s exclusive tag would be about 40% more than Jackson’s football career earnings.”

Another potential outcome is the Ravens tag-and-trade Jackson, a scenario covered by ESPN’s Jamison Hensley.

“It’s unclear how much draft funding Baltimore will get from the Jackson deal,” Hensley said. With two picks and two second-round picks, Jackson, who turned 26 earlier this month, will be much more marketable, Houston traded. [Deshaun] Watson and a 2024 sixth-round pick to the Browns in exchange for first-round picks in 2022, 2023 and 2024. 2022 third-round pick. And a fourth-round pick in 2024.”

If Jackson is teaming up next season, what does that mean for 2024 and beyond?

“The second franchise tag in the 2024 NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement is mandated to be a 20% increase over Jackson’s projected 2023 monopoly, which will amount to $54,297,600,” Corey wrote. “Knowing Jackson is in a position to test the open market in 2025 after earning just under $100 million from two consecutive franchise tags, the Ravens will give him a fully guaranteed contract. Either trade him next year and designate Jackson as a franchise player for the third year in a row in 2025 would be prohibitively expensive. , is projected to be $78,188,544.

Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus has identified one defensive free agent each team should sign this offseason. For the Ravens, it’s cornerback Jonathan Jones, who has started 16 games for the New England Patriots this season.

“As evidenced by a strong 2022 season, Jones’ versatility as a cornerback who can play outside and in the slot he’s a creative Ravens defense that does a lot of mixing and matching in the back end. “Cornerback Marlon Humphrey and safety Kyle Hamilton will also be slotted into the rotation based on the matchup, and Jones will be playing defensive backs throughout the formation.” It will allow you to keep moving.

“Jones played a career-best 914 Snap in 2022 — his first season playing mostly outdoors — and while his performance took a bit of a dip, he still scored 68.1 overall. And earned a coverage grade of 67.9. Jones is also an excellent player, running defenders and tacklers and scoring 75.0 or better run defense in consecutive seasons.”

Cornerback is a position the Ravens are likely to tackle either in free agency or in the draft. Marcus Peters is a pending free agent, as is fellow veteran cornerback Kyle Fuller. Brandon Stevens has gotten a lot of playing time since being drafted in the 3rd round of the 2021 draft, but he’s still not quite playing cornerback.

NFL.com’s Mark Ross took a look at the players selected in the first round of 2020 and offered his opinion on whether it’s worth exercising the fifth-year option for each.

Not surprisingly, inside linebacker Patrick Queen appreciated it.

“The addition of Pro Bowl linebacker Roquan Smith in 2022 seems to have freed up a credible queen to play more,” Ross wrote. After acquiring Smith, Queen added 1.5 sacks and 1 pick to his total, giving him career-highs in both categories (5 sacks and 2 sacks respectively), as he hasn’t missed a game in three seasons. The Queen is…some of Baltimore’s great defensive core going forward alongside the newly expanded Smith.”

Choosing Queen’s fifth-year option would keep him under contract until 2024.

The NFL has announced five teams competing in the 2023 International Games. Two of them are on his schedule for The Ravens Road. Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars.

Both teams will play in London, with the Titans returning to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the Jaguars returning to Wembley Stadium.

Details of dates, fixtures and kickoff times will be confirmed later in the year when the full 2023 schedule is announced. The Ravens have only appeared in his one international game in the team’s history, in 2017 when he lost 44-7 to the Jaguars in London.