Lamar Jackson: Contract negotiations can wait until after Super Bowl win
With the Kansas City Chiefs making quarterback Patrick Mahomes so rich he can become a part-owner of a baseball team, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson would be right to be drooling a bit. However, the reigning MVP says contract talks can wait until after he’s holding the Lombardi Trophy.
“My reaction – I’ve just got to win a Super Bowl,” Jackson said when asked about his reaction to Mahomes’ $500 million contract extension. “I don’t really focus on what he has going on, because I’ve still got to prove myself. When that time comes, then we can negotiate after the Super Bowl.”
The Ravens have been through this once before and might be wise to get a deal done before Jackson has purple and gold confetti falling on him. Baltimore waited to sign Joe Flacco until after his legendary Super Bowl XLVII run, losing all leverage in the process and making Flacco the highest-paid quarterback in the league at that time. With Mahomes and the Chiefs setting the bar significantly higher at a time when the salary cap could actually take a deep dive down, the Ravens have to be sweating the idea, at least a bit.
At the 2018 NFL Draft, Jackson said he was bringing a Super Bowl to Baltimore. Though he’s shown a far more humble side since that night, he’s not backed off the big game being his ultimate goal, even above personal accolades. Jackson continued with that logic, saying Mahomes’ massive contract hasn’t even crossed his mind and his attention is solely on winning games.
“But right now, I’ve got to focus on winning,” Jackson continued. “I can’t put that on my mind. You’ve got to win first. If you’re not winning, then you won’t be worried about no $500 million dollars either.”
Regardless of if Jackson wins a Super Bowl before his next contract, he’s surely going to be one of the highest-paid players at the position. But for now, his assertion he only cares about winning is a refreshing take.
