Ravens fans and players already feel like they won draft day.
Baltimore announced a five-year extension with quarterback Lamar Jackson on Thursday, ending an offseason of rampant trade rumors and cryptic posts from the 2019 NFL MVP.
TSN'S NFL DRAFT HQ
Live picks tracker | 7-round mock draft | Top 200 big board
The deal — reportedly for for $260 million with $185 million guaranteed —will make Jackson the league's highest-paid player, taking that title from Jalen Hurts less than two weeks after Hurts inked a massive extension of his own.
Jackson announced last month that he requested a trade earlier in the offseason, so this moment was never guaranteed. Nevertheless, the Ravens never invested in an alternative at the position beyond Tyler Huntley, and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. signed with Baltimore in hopes of catching passes from Jackson. They've been rewarded for their trust.
MORE: Full contract details as Ravens, Lamar Jackson end stalemate
It's safe to say Beckham is fired up after the news.
🤞🏾truzzzz
— Odell Beckham Jr (@obj) April 27, 2023
Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey is coming for the haters.
Also everyone talking crazy about the Ravens for the past 4 months. Screw you! Respectfully
— marlonhumphrey.eth (@marlon_humphrey) April 27, 2023
Y’all thought he was leaving??? and All yall Ravens fans that wanted EDC fired where y’all at???😑😑 https://t.co/ttRSDH7DuE
— marlonhumphrey.eth (@marlon_humphrey) April 27, 2023
The breakdown of when and how Jackson receives his guaranteed money will tell the full story, but he's getting some props for landing a $260 million deal without an agent.
Lamar looking at everybody who said he needed an agent pic.twitter.com/NZsU5B1Adh
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) April 27, 2023
WHO SAYS LAMAR JACKSON NEEDS AN AGENT??
— Ravens Nation LIVE (@LIVERavenNation) April 27, 2023
Just became the highest paid player in NFL history without one.
HE IS THE MAN. pic.twitter.com/RhzvHSFlF1
Hurts' time as the NFL's highest-paid player only officially lasted a few days, and his agent Nicole Lynn had some fun with it.
That was a fun 4 days 🤣🤣🤣
— Nicole Lynn (@AgentNicoleLynn) April 27, 2023
The Ravens might not be done. Yahoo's Charles Robinson reported the deal could give Baltimore an opportunity to make a trade for Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, which would be one of the biggest storylines to watch on draft night.
If Beckham, Humphrey, and Ravens fans are ready for the season to start right now, a Hopkins trade could make this the most memorable draft weekend in franchise history.
