Hours before the 2023 NFL Draft kicks off from Kansas City, Mo., the Baltimore Ravens made Lamar Jackson the richest man in football with a five-year contract extension.
First reported by the NFL Network, the new deal is set to make Jackson the highest-paid player in the NFL, after Philadelphia did so by extending quarterback Jalen Hurts for $255 over five years last Monday. The terms for Jackson's extension, per the NFL Network, are for $260 million over five years, making the Ravens' quarterback the richest player in NFL history.
The deal is for a guaranteed $185 million, according to CBS Sports.
Weโve agreed in principle on a 5-year contract extension with QB @Lj_era8โผ๏ธ
โ Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) April 27, 2023
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OUR QB. ๐๐๐ pic.twitter.com/yJRGGMFcGY
โ Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) April 27, 2023
The extension comes after a months-long standoff between the organization and Jackson, who negotiated his contract without an agent. The Ravens placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Jackson this offseason, which gave the 2019 unanimous Most Valuable Player the option to seek a trade partner.
"You know, for the last few months, there's been a lot of 'he said, she said,'" Jackson said in a video posted to the Ravens' Twitter account. "A lot of nail-biting, a lot of head scratching going on. But for the next five years, it's a lot of flock going on. Let's go baby, let's go, let's go man. Can't wait to get there, can't wait to be there, can't wait to light up M&T (Bank Stadium) for the next five years, man. Let's get it."
In five games against the Steelers in his career, Jackson is 2-3 while completing 59.6% of his passes for 634 yards, four touchdowns, and six interceptions and rushing 47 times for 217 yards and zero touchdowns with six fumbles and two lost.
