OWINGS MILLS, Maryland – Baltimore Ravens’ contract negotiations with Lamar Jackson will not be affected by Dak Prescott’s record deal with the Dallas Cowboys, general manager Eric DeCosta said on Tuesday.
“If you go to the Bentley or Range Rover dealership, you know how much the cars are going to cost. You are not going to get a big discount,” said DeCosta. “They all cost almost the same and you go there with the idea that you are going to buy the car or you are not going to buy it … In the end, they are all very big contracts. They are excellent players. They are quarterback deals. They are famous players and you know that you will pay a lot, but you will receive a lot in return. “
On Monday, Prescott signed a four-year, $ 160 million contract with the Cowboys, which includes a $ 66 million signing bonus, the highest in NFL history, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Prescott’s $ 40 million per year average is second only to Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes ($ 45 million per season).
DeCosta said he had recent personal conversations with Jackson about the structure of a long-term deal. But the sides have not started formal negotiations and no contract proposal has been exchanged.
“We are confident and committed to trying to close a long-term deal and hope that we can do that at some point in the near future,” said DeCosta. “It may take a while, but we are willing to try.”
Jackson, 24, is entering the final year of his $ 9.5 million four-year rookie contract. He is scheduled to win $ 1,771 million in 2021 – which currently ranks 23rd among quarterbacks – after leading the Ravens in the playoffs in each of his three seasons and winning the NFL MVP award in 2019.
Baltimore, technically, can prevent Jackson from being a free agent at least until the 2023 season if he exercises his fifth year option and uses the franchise brand. The process for hiring franchise quarterbacks can be a long one. It took the Cowboys and Prescott three years to strike a deal.
But DeCosta said his approach to Jackson will not change as he looks at how negotiations in Dallas with Prescott unfolded.
“Every deal is different. Every player is different. Every GM is different,” said DeCosta. “We have a strategy and we have a relationship. Lamar played three years and, you know, he is a good player. We really feel good about him. I think he feels really good about us. It is up to us to get a deal done.”
DeCosta has indicated that he does not know whether Jackson will continue to represent himself or hire an agent.
According to DeCosta, he has had some conversations with Jackson since the end of the season and spent time with him a few weeks ago. DeCosta said they talked about the team, the Jackson family, as well as their goals and dreams for the future.
“We laughed a lot,” said DeCosta. “It’s been very healthy and very, very good. We started talking about how it could be a contract, but we haven’t really gotten into all the weeds and the nuances of all these kinds of things, but that is going to come to some point soon.”
DeCosta added: “We will be as transparent as possible with Lamar. He will be as transparent as possible with us. Certainly, it will be a good relationship and partnership.”
DeCosta addressed other topics during his 36-minute press conference:
-
The Ravens have started preliminary negotiations with Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract. “I love everything about Mark – his personality, his ability, his work ethic, behavior, competitiveness,” said DeCosta. “He’s the type of guy we want to keep.”
-
DeCosta said there was no deadline for a possible replacement of the Pro Bowl offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr., who expressed his desire to play on the left tackle on social media. “He is under contract and understands that,” said DeCosta. “We will do what is best for Orlando and we will do what is best for the Ravens.”
-
The Earl Thomas security complaint is ongoing and will not be resolved soon. Thomas was cut last August after punching teammate Chuck Clark in practice. If the Ravens win the claim, they will receive an additional $ 5 million at the maximum. If Baltimore loses, he will take $ 5 million off the ceiling.