It appears Lamar Jackson is more than just a good quarterback — add “good negotiator” to his list of talents.
Amid his contract saga this offseason with the Ravens, there was ample discourse about Jackson’s decision to represent himself in lieu of having an agent negotiate the deal for him, as the vast majority of players do.
The decision seemingly worked out.
Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta — the most important figure on the other side of those talks — praised Jackson’s negotiating abilities.
“Lamar is a good agent from the standpoint of, he asks the right questions, he knows what he wants in a lot of different ways, he’s aware of different mechanisms and issues with the contract, language terms, types of structures, things like that,” DeCosta told Pro Football Talk. “He’s done his homework with all of that stuff. He’s a very, very smart guy, savvy. And he did a great job overall.”
The proof is in the numbers, as Jackson’s deftness as an agent made him the highest-paid player in the NFL.
Jackson signed a five-year, $260 million contract with $185 million guaranteed to remain with the Ravens and avoided having to pay an agent fee for the deal.
The $52 million per year he is set to earn surpasses Jalen Hurts’ recent extension with the Eagles as the most lucrative in the league.
It didn’t come easy, however.
After Jackson and the Ravens failed to find common ground after months of negotiating, Baltimore used the non-exclusive franchise tag on the quarterback in March.
The move left open the possibility of another team signing Jackson to an offer sheet, which the Ravens would have then been given a choice of either matching or receiving two first-round picks to let him walk.
At times, there appeared to be vitriol between the two sides, as Jackson posted various cryptic messages on social media.
Instead, Jackson’s long-term future is secured, all by his own doing.
Jackson is set to address the media about the contract for the first time on Thursday.