John Harbaugh Comments On Ravens’ Status With Lamar Jackson

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Will he stay or will he go?

That is the question surrounding the Baltimore Ravens and their franchise quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Jackson has been asking for a huge contract extension for the last several months, and with his official free agency upcoming, they have apparently been unwilling to meet his demands.

At the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, head coach John Harbaugh said he’s “fervently hopeful” that an agreement is reached with Jackson soon.

The @CBSSportsHQ 1-on-1 with #Ravens head coach John Harbaugh after his media presser at the Combine today. pic.twitter.com/fo3rsNXLSE

— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 1, 2023

If no deal is reached between the two sides, there is the possibility that the Ravens use the franchise tag on Jackson, which would allow him to remain with the team for the 2023 season while still working out a deal.

Keeping Jackson or watching him join another team represents the difference between hope and a long, painful rebuilding process for Baltimore.

When he arrived in 2018 as a rookie, the team ended a three-year playoff drought, and the following year, it reached the divisional round for the first time since 2014 while winning 14 games, which was a franchise record.

The concern many have for Jackson is his durability, given that he is one of the NFL’s pre-eminent running quarterbacks.

He missed the last five games of the 2022 regular season plus the Ravens’ wild-card round contest with a sprained PCL, and he also missed five games in 2021 with an ankle injury.

Jackson has played a full regular-season schedule just once, which happened in his rookie season.

His talent is undeniable, but Baltimore must weigh his value with the risks that come with his style of play when it comes to contract negotiations.

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