Lamar Jackson's contract negotiation with the Ravens had some bumps, but the star quarterback got his money when the time came. And he lived up to his new deal in 2023.
The 27-year-old, who won the NFL MVP award in 2019, is the frontrunner for the honor again after a stellar season. Jackson led Baltimore to the No. 1 seed in the AFC with 3,678 yards and 24 touchdowns through the air, plus 821 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.
His first two seasons as a starter included his first MVP award and double-digit win totals. But injuries plagued his next two seasons.
Jackson missed five games (four to an ankle injury and one to an illness) in 2021, and the Ravens failed to qualify for the playoffs. He missed six games due to a knee injury in 2022, including a first-round playoff loss.
After the 2022 season, Baltimore placed a non-exclusive franchise tag on its star quarterback, allowing the sides more time to reach an agreement on a new contract. Had they not made a deal, Jackson would have played the 2023 season under the one-year, $32.4 million franchise tag before hitting unrestricted free agency in 2024.
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Luckily for Ravens fans, Jackson signed a monster contract extension before the season, and the quarterback immediately proved his worth.
Lamar Jackson contract details
Prior to the start of the 2023 season, Jackson signed a five-year, $260 million contract that included $185 million in total guarantees. That makes him the fourth-highest-paid player in the NFL behind fellow star quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert.
His $52 million annual average value ranks third in the NFL, trailing just Burrow and Herbert.
Jackson has a potential out in his contract after year four, $208 million into his deal. He also has a full no-trade clause and a no franchise tag clause after 2027.
| Year | Age | Cash AAV |
| 2024 | 27 | $56.3 million |
| 2025 | 28 | $52 million |
| 2026 | 29 | $52 million |
| 2027 | 30 | $52 million |
| 2028 | 31 | UFA |
