Lamar Jackson Gets a $56 Million Gift From the Baltimore Ravens, but It’s Not His New Contract Extension
The Baltimore Ravens are now one of the NFL’s richest franchises. They are the only team to make the top five in both revenue and franchise values, and they hold the league’s second-highest market capitalization (right behind only the New York Giants).
In a move that shocked the sports world, the Baltimore Ravens have signed their rookie third-round draft pick, QB Lamar Jackson of Louisville, to a 3-year contract extension worth up to $56M. Jackson, a Heisman Trophy winner and a record-setting college player, had a breakout sophomore season with the Cardinals in 2011, but he was only a small part of the team’s success. With a virtually identical offensive line and a new head coach, the Ravens have a lot of work ahead of them to compete in the AFC North at the highest levels, but Jackson will get a chance to get on the field and show he can be a franchise quarterback.
The Baltimore Ravens are far from the first NFL team to invest in a young QB, but they are by far the most recent. Last year, the Kansas City Chiefs gave quarterback Patrick Mahomes a six-year deal that could pay him up to $120 million. It’s not clear how much that deal is worth, but the Ravens are paying Mahomes well below that. The average NFL contract requires a QB to make at least $20 million over the first three years, with the fourth year almost always being the final year of the deal. The Ravens are paying Jackson $1.6 million in 2019, but they could have paid him up to $25.6 million over the first three years, which would have put him in the top five
The Baltimore Ravens just made a $56 million investment in their franchise quarterback’s long-term future with the team. While Lamar Jackson must be pleased that the Ravens have landed one of his favorite targets, the former NFL MVP is still seeking for a contract extension. That will happen when the Ravens finally pay Jackson his well-deserved — and most likely huge — new contract.
Mark Andrews is one of the most underappreciated tight ends in the NFL.
Rob Carr/Getty Images | Lamar Jackson and Mark Andrews
In the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft, the Ravens selected Oklahoma tight end Mark Andrews with the 86th selection. Andrews has grown into one of the finest — and underappreciated — tight ends in the NFL during his three seasons in Baltimore.
Andrews has caught 156 passes on 236 targets for 2,105 yards and 20 touchdowns while establishing a unique relationship with the quarterback selected 50 spots ahead of him. Despite missing two games, he led the team in catches (64) in 2019 and matched wide receiver Marquise Brown for the lead (58) in 2020.
Andrews is firmly at the top of the second-tier of elite tight ends, but he isn’t quite on the level of Travis Kelce, George Kittle, Rob Gronkowski, or even Darren Waller in the past three seasons. He is the leader of a gang that includes Evan Engram, Eric Ebron, Hunter Henry, and T.J. Hockenson.
In the red zone, where he’s been in the top 25 in the league in targets the past two seasons, he’s been particularly important to Jackson and the Ravens.
Andrews, who is just 26 years old, should be a significant force at the position for many years to come.
Andrews was given a $56 million contract extension by the Baltimore Ravens.
With a salary of $14 million per season, Mark Andrews is currently the NFL’s third-highest paid tight end.
He is in third place after George Kittle ($15 million) and Travis Kelce ($14.3 million).
Lamar Jackson is the Ravens’ next opponent. https://t.co/Tjem07UEOk
September 6, 2021 — Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley)
On September 6, 2021, Mark Andrews will be 26 years old. That day, the Ravens handed him the greatest birthday gift imaginable, inking him to a four-year, $56 million contract with a guaranteed $37.6 million.
Andrews currently has the third-highest yearly average pay at his position, behind only George Kittle ($15 million) and Travis Kelce ($14.3 million). Andrews is also set to earn the highest money at the position over the next four seasons, thanks to his lengthier deal (for now) than either of these big names.
According to ESPN, Baltimore general manager Eric DeCosta described Andrews’ qualities that made a long-term contract appealing and wished him a happy birthday in the process:
Mark is the kind of player we want to retain as a Raven in the long run. He is a competitor, a leader, and a someone who is enthusiastic about what he does. We are ecstatic to have him for the next five years in Baltimore. Best wishes to Mark and his family, as well as a happy birthday.
Mark Andrews’ contract extension has been extended, according to Eric DeCosta.
It’s time for Baltimore to concentrate on the big prize now that one of its greatest hits from the 2018 draft has been completed.
Lamar Jackson is seeking a contract extension worth more than $250 million.
Lamar Jackson, the No. 32 overall selection in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Louisville, has swiftly established himself as one of the league’s greatest talents. He earned the 2019 NFL MVP Award after leading Baltimore to the playoffs in each of his first three seasons.
Jackson, who is on the last year of his rookie deal, is approximately the 400th highest-paid player in the NFL. His fifth-year option in 2022 will propel him to the top of the list, with a salary of $23 million for the season, but he has a lot more on the way.
Josh Allen, a fellow Class of 2018 draftee, inked a record six-year, $258 million contract with the Buffalo Bills in early August. With $150 million in guaranteed money, Allen is barely ahead of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes ($141.5 million guaranteed), who holds the record for the highest guaranteed money ever.
Allen had a much better and more fruitful 2020 season than Jackson, but the Ravens’ quarterback has amassed a far more remarkable body of work so far.
The fact that Jackson does not have a conventional agency is fascinating to see as he goes for his bag. With the assistance of his financial manager, who also happens to be his mother, he is bargaining.
Pro Football Reference provided all stats.
LAMAR JACKSON’S FAVORITE HIGH SCHOOL WIDE RECEIVER REUNITES WITH THE BALTIMORE RAVENS
At the beginning of this offseason, a lot of attention was paid to the Baltimore Ravens and their quarterback, Lamar Jackson. The Ravens had a disappointing 5-11 season in 2018, and they decided to part ways with their starting quarterback, Joe Flacco, because he was the highest paid player in the NFL. On the other hand, the Ravens signed a contract extension with their third-year quarterback, Lamar Jackson, that will pay him a whopping $56 million over the next three seasons.. Read more about lamar jackson wr and let us know what you think.
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