Ravens Offered Lamar Jackson Two Fully-Guaranteed Contracts

New details emerge in collusion appeal ruling about negotiations between Jackson and Baltimore.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 9:11pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a football player in motion, with sharp planes of navy, green, and orange overlapping to create a dynamic, abstract composition.A cubist interpretation of the complex contract negotiations between the Ravens and their star quarterback Lamar Jackson.Baltimore Today

According to a new appeal ruling, the Baltimore Ravens offered quarterback Lamar Jackson two separate three-year, fully-guaranteed contract offers, which he ultimately declined before signing a five-year deal with the team in 2023. The ruling does not specify the compensation amounts or whether the deals included a no-tag clause, but it confirms the Ravens were willing to provide Jackson with a lucrative, fully-guaranteed contract despite the NFL's efforts to discourage such agreements.

Why it matters

This new information contradicts the NFL's reported attempts to persuade teams not to offer fully-guaranteed contracts, as the Ravens clearly went against that league-wide directive in their negotiations with Jackson. It also raises questions about why Jackson declined the Ravens' offers, which could have provided him financial security on a shorter-term deal.

The details

The appeal ruling states that the Ravens offered Jackson two separate three-year, fully-guaranteed contract offers, which he declined before eventually signing a five-year deal with the team in 2023. The ruling does not specify the annual compensation amounts of the offers or whether they included a no-tag clause, which would have allowed Jackson to become an unrestricted free agent after the three-year term. Jackson's eventual five-year contract included two fully-guaranteed years at signing, with additional guarantees kicking in during the second and fourth years of the deal.

  • The Ravens made the two fully-guaranteed contract offers to Jackson prior to him signing his five-year deal in 2023.

The players

Lamar Jackson

The Baltimore Ravens' starting quarterback who declined two fully-guaranteed contract offers from the team before signing a five-year deal in 2023.

Baltimore Ravens

The NFL team that offered quarterback Lamar Jackson two separate three-year, fully-guaranteed contract offers, which he ultimately declined.

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What they’re saying

“The initial ruling in the collusion grievance filed by the NFL Players Association on behalf of Lamar Jackson, Russell Wilson, and Kyler Murray shed new light on the negotiations between Jackson and the Ravens that preceded his five-year deal in 2023.”

— Mike Florio, Author

What’s next

The NFL and NFLPA will continue to monitor the ongoing collusion grievance case, which could have broader implications for the league's contract negotiation practices.

The takeaway

This case highlights the tension between the NFL's reported efforts to limit fully-guaranteed contracts and individual teams like the Ravens who are willing to offer such deals to top players like Lamar Jackson. It raises questions about the decision-making process for both sides and the future of guaranteed contracts in the league.