Super Bowl or Not: Lamar Jackson has earned the bag
Written By: Jackie Rae
As a football fan, I hated seeing the back-and-forth on whether Lamar Jackson deserved a big payout. From the outside looking in, I wondered if the Ravens would run his body to the ground like the Carolina Panthers did to Cam Newton before tossing him aside.
The Ravens should have inked a big contract long ago, but luckily, he got the bag before the start of last season. But what was the hesitation? After being drafted in the first round of the 2018 draft, Jackson has excelled since becoming the starter midway through his rookie season.
Let's recap, shall we? In his first full year, Jackson won the 2019 NFL MVP award by throwing a league-high 36 touchdown passes, passing for 3,127 yards, and rushing for another 1,206 yards and seven scores.
Jackson kept defenses guessing. He is undoubtedly the NFL's most dynamic dual-threat, who can break a defense down with his ability to make big plays with both his arm and legs.
The Ravens went the NFL way, as with most Black quarterbacks in the league, and initially centered their offense around Jackson's running. However, he has clearly shown his exceptional skill from the pocket. This expanded the Ravens' offense and earned him a contract that reflects his qualities.
The best thing about Lamar Jackson off the field is his commitment to representing himself. For years, conversations circulated that he was not in the position to do so because he does not have a master's degree and lacks the business experience required of certified NFL contract advisors. Ask any successful executive, and they will tell you most of their success is based on relationships. Jackson is well-liked, a true leader, and the kind of person you want to represent your franchise.
Still, any contract is difficult to negotiate for an athlete plagued by injuries. Jackson was forced to miss the final four games of 2021 with an ankle injury and the last six of 2022 with a PCL sprain. Injuries are a risk to anyone on the field, but those risks go up for a mobile quarterback.
Aside from believing in himself, the blockbuster deal DeSean Watson received with the Cleveland Browns clearly did nothing but strengthen his belief that he deserved a huge payout. He felt he should have been ranked above Watson, and offering him significantly less than the highest-paid quarterback risked insulting him. Jackson publicly stated that the Ravens did not recognize his value after their initial offer of a three-year, $133 million guaranteed contract, with additional clauses that could potentially increase the total value to $200 million.
It makes sense; after all, Jackson is similar, but I would argue he is a much better quarterback than Watson, and he doesn't have any scandals attached to his name. Quite the opposite, actually. Jackson's name is synonymous with charity, not scandal. In 2022, a video surfaced of him giving money to people in a store. His annual "Funday with LJ" allows kids to spend time with one of their favorite athletes, and he consistently donates thousands of dollars to back-to-school events.
It's hard to see why an exceptional athlete with a big heart has to overprove how deserving he is of the bag. But thankfully, those days have passed. He started the 2023 season with a $260 million contract, and he ended the season winning his second NFL MVP title.
After earning his contract, Jackson took to Instagram with a message that said, "I won't let you down." After losing to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 at home this season, some would argue that he did. I am not one of those people. Some key mistakes in that game did not involve Jackson, and his star continues to rise.
Not only has this man earned the bag, but I believe l he is stepping into this 2024 season with a chip on his shoulder and will prove he deserves the whole bag and all the accolades that go with it.