Deshaun Watson’s fully-guaranteed $230M deal could end up costing the Ravens Lamar Jackson and shake up AFC North
Watson #Watson
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti knew at the NFL annual meeting last March that Deshaun Watson’s $230 million contract from the Browns — the first fully guaranteed pact in the history of the NFL — could cause problems with Lamar Jackson, and now he stands to possibly lose him less than a year later.
The Ravens on Tuesday applied the nonexclusive franchise tag to Jackson worth a guaranteed $32.4 million for 2023, meaning he can begin talking to other teams on Monday when the pre-negotiating period opens. If he signs an offer sheet, the Ravens would have a chance to match it. If not, the new team must give Baltimore two first-round picks.
The Ravens, who have balked at giving Jackson the fully guaranteed deal he’s been seeking in the wake of Watson’s contract, might be forced to decide if it’s worth it, or say farewell to their franchise quarterback and unanimous NFL MVP in 2019.
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Not long after the 4 p.m. deadline to tag players, reports surfaced about teams not interested in pursuing Jackson, which was odd considering the bidding war that ensued when Watson became available in March — for three first-round picks instead of two. By about 5:30 p.m., ESPN’s Field Yates listed in a tweet all of the teams that reportedly won’t be pursuing Jackson. It included the Falcons, Dolphins, Panthers, Commanders and Raiders.
Of course, teams were still probably trying to process the surprising news that Jackson was hit with the nonexclusive tag — and thus available in a trade — as opposed to the exclusive tag, which would’ve given Baltimore sole negotiating rights. The exclusive tag also would’ve paid Jackson $45.2 million in 2023 — the going rate for top-tier QB these days — as opposed to $32.4 million.
The Ravens also made it clear that they’ll continue to negotiate with Jackson, who doesn’t have an agent, in hopes of striking a long-term deal. But chances are some team will make Jackson an offer he can’t refuse, especially if it contains that coveted full guarantee. If he receives the full G, the Ravens will either have to stray from company philosophy against it, or risk starting all over at quarterback.
As it is, they’ve parted ways with offensive coordinator Greg Roman, and have hired former Browns offensive coordinator Todd Monken to replace him. At this point, the Ravens aren’t even sure what style of offense they’ll be running if they lose Jackson.
If he doesn’t receive the offer he wants, there’s no guarantee he’ll show up for camp on time under the tag, and things could get ugly.
Meanwhile, the Browns are gearing up for their first full season with Watson at the helm. It represents a potential shift in the power structure of the AFC North if Jackson leaves and the Ravens have to replace him. If he stays, the Ravens will apparently have to mend the fences with a player who hasn’t felt valued enough by the club to receive the same unflinching commitment Watson received.
Bisciotti spoke for a lot of owners at the annual meeting last year when he reacted to Watson’s groundbreaking deal, which averages $46 million over five years.
“It’s like, ‘Damn, I wish they hadn’t guaranteed the whole contract,’” Bisciotti said via Jamison Hensley of ESPN. “I don’t know that he should’ve been the first guy to get a fully guaranteed contract. To me, that’s something that is groundbreaking, and it’ll make negotiations harder with others.”
Bisciotti added, “But it doesn’t necessarily mean that we have to play that game, you know? We shall see.”
So far, no other NFL quarterback has coaxed a full guarantee out of his team.
But clubs interested in Jackson over the next few weeks will probably have to follow suit if they want to land him, and it might force the Ravens’ hand.
One way or the other, Watson’s unprecedented contract is having a profound impact on the Ravens, and it could mean the end of the Jackson Era in Baltimore just as the Watson Era in Cleveland is beginning.
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