During the final month, the connection between the Baltimore Ravens and Lamar Jackson has been rocky to say the least.
Now Baltimore hopes the signing of large receiver Odell Beckham Jr. will assist mend fences between the 2 sides.
Before the March 7 deadline, the Ravens positioned the franchise tag on Jackson after failing to achieve a long-term settlement. Then weeks later, throughout the NFL Annual Meetings in Phoenix, Jackson tweeted he had requested the Ravens to commerce himx. This was minutes after coach John Harbaugh started talking to the media.
“You’ve got two sides that appreciate each other,” Harbaugh stated final month. “Lamar believes in us and we consider in Lamar.
“It’s a financial factor that may be discovered, that may be labored out. That’s only a matter of negotiating. It’s a novel scenario, it’s totally different than most years.
“This is a contract situation… I’m looking forward to getting back to the normal ways of doing things.”
Time hasn’t healed outdated wounds as final week, throughout a pre-draft press convention with the media, Ravens public relations lower off a query about Jackson from a neighborhood reporter asking in regards to the workforce’s draft plans. Days later, Baltimore gave Beckham a deal he couldn’t refuse with a go to to the Jets on his agenda.
If Beckham could make Jackson glad, then overpaying him is value it.
Baltimore and Beckham agreed to a one-year contract that could possibly be value as much as $18 million on Sunday. Shortly after the deal was introduced, Jackson confirmed pleasure as he and the Ravens posted a photograph of him Face-Timing with Beckham.
Quality large receivers and the Ravens have gone collectively like oil and water in recent times. However, after Beckham Jr. agreed to return aboard, each side are hoping it could possibly change that. Baltimore has had just one large receiver register over 1,000 yards since 2016 and that was Marquise Brown in 2021.
The Ravens are hoping Beckham can regain the shape that he confirmed in Super Bowl LVI when he caught two passes for 52 yards and a landing earlier than tearing his ACL. That was the final time Beckham noticed stay motion as he went unsigned final 12 months whereas nonetheless recovering from his harm.
One profit for Beckham is he’ll play in an offense he’s accustomed to. Todd Monken is the Ravens’ new offensive coordinator and he coached Beckham in 2019 when he held the identical function with the Browns.
That 12 months was Beckham’s greatest season with the Browns and final 12 months ending over 1,000 yards. He ended the marketing campaign with 74 receptions for 1,035 yards and 4 touchdowns.
After tearing his ACL in 2020, Beckham fell out with the Browns after which quarterback Baker Mayfield the next 12 months as he was launched and later signed by the Rams as he helped information them to a Super Bowl title. If Beckham can keep wholesome, he would give the Ravens one thing they haven’t had in years, a authentic exterior menace to associate with three-time Pro Bowl tight finish Mark Andrews.
The drawback with Beckham is he hasn’t been wholesome as two ACL accidents since 2020 have restricted him to only 67 catches for 856 yards and eight touchdowns over the past three years.
Baltimore added Nelson Agholor this offseason to be its slot receiver, which ought to assist take some stress off Beckham together with having Andrews. The workforce additionally has third-year participant Rashod Bateman, who has proven promise in restricted responsibility. However, Bateman has suffered groin and foot accidents throughout his first two years within the league.
If the trio of Beckham, Agholor and Bateman can keep wholesome, they’d be by far probably the most dynamic receiver group Jackson has performed with throughout his time within the league. In this 12 months’s draft, Baltimore may nonetheless add extra weapons to encompass Jackson. Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba, USC’s Jordan Addison, or Boston College’s Zay Flowers could possibly be potential choices at choose No. 22 total.
The elephant within the room continues to be if the Ravens and Jackson will comply with a long-term deal. If Jackson indicators his non-exclusive franchise tender, he’ll obtain $32.416 million assured in 2023.
Baltimore and Jackson have till July 17 to work out a long-term extension with the Ravens. If they can’t, Jackson must play on the franchise tag subsequent season, which wouldn’t be the worst factor on the planet.
Sure, Jackson has been claiming for a brand new contract for years. But if he takes the Kirk Cousins route, it may finally repay for him.
After Washington franchise tagged him in consecutive seasons in 2016 and 2017, Cousins signed a completely assured three-year contract value $84 million with the Vikings in 2018. He later signed a one-year, $35 million totally assured, and Cousins acquired a $40 million elevate final season.
Jackson’s well being has been a priority, which is likely one of the causes the Ravens are reluctant to provide him a completely assured contract, very similar to the five-year, $230 million deal Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson acquired final 12 months. Jackson tweeted final September that he turned down Baltimore’s three-year contract provide, $133 million totally assured.
Who is aware of what have an effect on Beckham’s signing may have on Jackson. But if he decides to withdraw his commerce request, the Ravens and Jackson may have a particular season.
That may later result in Jackson receiving tens of millions of totally assured cash every time he does obtain that extension.
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com