That was over a month ago, however, and no new information has surfaced since then. However, some signs on social media could signal frustration for Jackson, who is representing himself in his contract negotiations. The current Ravens quarterback changed his Instagram profile picture as well as his Twitter banner picture on Friday to a photo of gold teeth that reads “I NEED $.” It could mean nothing, or it could mean everything. Jackson is set to return to the Ravens for practice on July 27 in the final year of his rookie contract. He will make $23 million guaranteed in 2022, which ranks ninth in the league this season. Jackson also has some power on his side — he’s already won an MVP, earned an All-Pro nod and two Pro Bowl selections in his first four seasons. Jackson also tied for the 10th most touchdowns among quarterbacks since entering the league in 2018. For what it’s worth, the Ravens have expressed their desire to keep Jackson. Owner Steve Bisciotti said in May that the team values him and wants to make a new contract work. Bisciotti also floated the idea that Jackson could do what Kirk Cousins did from 2016-17 in Washington and play the franchise tag for two years to save the team money. Lamar Jackson is looking for a long-term extension with the Ravens. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Other QB questions
It’s not the first time this offseason that a quarterback’s social media antics have been linked to a contract dispute. Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray deleted references to his team on his Instagram page earlier this season, and his agent later explained Murray’s contract requirements. Murray returned to the Cardinals during mandatory minicamps, but could still be looking for a new deal (even though he still has two years left on his rookie deal). The story continues Jackson isn’t the only first-round quarterback from the 2018 draft with an uncertain future. Baker Mayfield, the No. 1 pick, and Sam Darnold, the No. 3 pick, are both fighting for new contracts this season — and for the same team, too! They, like Jackson, are in the final year of their deals but broke out on their old teams before both were traded to the Carolina Panthers in back-to-back seasons. Josh Allen, the seventh pick in the 2018 draft, is the only quarterback in this class to sign a multi-year extension so far. The Buffalo Bills handed him a six-year, $258 million contract last offseason. What’s next for Jackson, however, is entirely up to him and the Ravens. Jackson has repeatedly said he wants to keep the negotiations private, but this latest development could signal a change in his line of thinking. Either way, Jackson’s future will certainly be one of the biggest questions this season.
