Insider offers proposal for Ravens to keep Lamar Jackson happy for 2023

NFL insider Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post believes he has a solution for how the Baltimore Ravens and quarterback Lamar Jackson can work together for at least one more season. 

La Canfora wrote that the Ravens should offer Jackson "what he would have made on the exclusive franchise tag: $45M (guaranteed)" if the two sides don't agree to a deal by the July 17 deadline for teams to sign tagged players. On March 7, the Ravens used the non-exclusive franchise tag worth roughly $32.416M to secure Jackson's rights for 2023-24. 

Jackson revealed last week that he requested a trade on March 2. 

It's possible, and perhaps even likely, the Ravens specifically utilized the non-exclusive tag in the hopes that another team would present Jackson with a contract he'd ideally sign. Baltimore could then either match that offer or accept two first-round draft picks as compensation. 

The problem for both sides is that no club has thus far given any indication it will offer Jackson over $230M in fully guaranteed money that he allegedly wants this offseason. Specifically, the Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Las Vegas Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons, Washington Commanders, New York Jets, Detroit Lions and New England Patriots are seemingly all out on possibly pursuing the one-time NFL Most Valuable Player. 

La Canfora mentioned that players on the franchise tag can stay away from their teams until Week 1 without losing salary. He thinks the Ravens should include a $1M bonus if Jackson arrives on time to training camp, another $1M if he guides the club to a postseason berth, $2M for a trip to the Super Bowl and $5M if he leads the team to a title. 

La Canfora, NBC Sports' Peter King and Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio are among knowledgeable individuals who have suggested Jackson won't play for the Ravens on the non-exclusive tag. While La Canfora's idea is only a temporary fix, it's also one that ultimately could benefit both Jackson and the Ravens assuming a different team doesn't go all-in on the 26-year-old before July 17.