After another superstar performance, let’s game out how much money the Ravens’ MVP quarterback stands to earn on his upcoming extension
We all know about triple-doubles in basketball, but did you know there’s a double-triple in football?
It’s a simple concept in which a player has triple-digit passing, rushing, or receiving yards. And it should come as no surprise that Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson is the GOAT of this stat. His 239 yards passing and 107 rush yards in Baltimore’s comeback win over the Kansas City Chiefs in a Sunday night thriller was his 11th career 2×3 — two more than Michael Vick. Russell Wilson, apparently, has four.
In other words, there are preciously few players in NFL history that make for plausible comparisons to Jackson. Aside from his on-field exploits, the 2019 NFL MVP has been in the news for being too busy to sign a new contract or even hire an agent, reportedly recruiting his mother to help him in negotiations with the Ravens.
And since it’s hard to compare Jackson with other NFL quarterbacks, it’s really hard to gauge what he’d get in a contract extension.
What we do know is that a 24-year-old with an MVP under his belt is going to get paid. But as of right now, Jackson, the 32nd pick in the 2018 draft, will only make $1.77 million in 2021, providing Baltimore with some of the best value in all of sports. The Ravens naturally exercised his fifth-year option, paying the Louisville product just over $23 million in 2022 before he hits unrestricted free agency the following March.
Would he and his mom seek Josh Allen money? Last month, Buffalo gave their QB six years and $258 million with $150 million guaranteed. In March, Dallas gave Dak Prescott four years and $160 million, including $120 million guaranteed. Last year, Houston gave Deshaun Watson four years and $156 million, including just over $110 million in guarantees. All numbers per Spotrac.
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Other quarterbacks who have been given at least $100 million in guarantees include Wilson, Matt Ryan, Jared Goff, Carson Wentz — and Patrick Mahomes, whose 10-year, $450 million mega-deal puts him in almost his own category. Notably, however, his $141 million in guarantees are less than Allen got from the Bills.
If Jackson got around to negotiating an extension, he could rightfully argue that he was better than most of the names listed above.
Right here, right now, consider it a lock that he’s going to get at least $100 million guaranteed (which would mean at upwards of $4 million in fees for his mom if she was officially registered with the NFLPA as his agent). In terms of average annual value, he ought to demand more than Prescott and Allen given his status as a league MVP.
That would place him in the $43.5 million range on a per-year basis. Over the course of a full contract, this number means:
- For a four-year deal, a total max value of $174 million
- For a six years: $261 million
- For eight years: $348 million
- For 10 years: $435 million
After throwing two interceptions in the first half Sunday night, including a pick-six, Jackson helped the Ravens overcome an 11-point deficit to beat the Chiefs for the first time in four tries, 36-35. It was further proof of Lamar’s singular ability to engineer victories both on the ground and through the air.
Aside from a deal with Oakley and his own Era 8 Apparel brand, the former Heisman Trophy winner doesn’t have any major endorsement deals — whether he hires an official agent or not, historic-level money is out there for Jackson.
It’s now just a matter of time until he decides he’s absolutely ready to prioritizing securing the bag.
