Lamar Jackson’s contract negotiation with the Ravens hit some bumps, but the star quarterback got his money when the time came. And he lived up to his new contract in 2023.
The 27-year-old, who won the NFL MVP award in 2019, is once again the favorite for the honor after a stellar season. Jackson led Baltimore to first place in the AFC with 3,678 yards and 24 touchdowns through the air, along with 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 with an ankle injury and one with 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 loss in the first round of the playoffs.
Following the 2022 season, Baltimore placed a non-exclusive franchise tag on its star quarterback, allowing the sides more time to come to terms on a new contract. Had they not reached an agreement, Jackson would have played the 2023 season under the one-year, $32.4 million franchise tag before hitting unrestricted free agency in 2024.
Fortunately for Ravens fans, Jackson signed a monster contract extension before the season and the quarterback immediately proved his worth.
Lamar Jackson contract details
Before the start of the 2023 season, Jackson signed a five-year, $260 million contract that included $185 million in total guarantees. That does it the fourth highest paid player in the NFL behind fellow star quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert.
His average annual value of $52 million ranks third in the NFL, behind only Burrow and Herbert.
Jackson has a potential buyout on his contract after the fourth year, $208 million on his deal. He also has a full no-trade clause and a no-franchise tag clause after 2027.
| Year | Age | AAV in cash |
| 2024 | 27 | 56.3 million dollars |
| 2025 | 28 | $52 million |
| 2026 | 29 | $52 million |
| 2027 | 30 | $52 million |
| 2028 | 31 | Ufa |
