Columnist: Ravens’ Lamar Jackson won despite ‘openly colluding’ owners

“Edge of Sports” podcast host and “The Nation” sports editor Dave Zirin has repeated what became a popular claim regarding talks involving quarterback Lamar Jackson, the Baltimore Ravens and other clubs. 

“Jackson won this battle: a David against an army of Goliaths; a David against NFL owners openly colluding to not even offer the former MVP a contract, lest they hurt the Ravens’ leverage,” Zirin wrote for a piece published Tuesday. “Against all of this he stood firm. He is now the face of the team — and in many respects the face of the city.” 

Shortly after the Ravens officially used the non-exclusive franchise tag to retain Jackson’s rights for 2023 on March 7, reports emerged saying a handful of teams had already decided not to pursue the 26-year-old. Jackson was eligible to speak with other clubs while on the tag, and Baltimore could’ve either matched any offer he accepted or taken two first-round draft picks in return for his services. 

As far back as the afternoon of March 7, it was said that the NFL Players Association was “keeping a close eye” for signs of collusion as Jackson allegedly looked to receive something similar to the fully guaranteed five-year, $230M contract Deshaun Watson got from the Cleveland Browns in March 2022. Multiple insiders later poured cold water over any collusion claims, and ESPN’s Chris Mortensen suggested on March 27 that the fact that injuries caused Jackson to miss 11 games (playoffs included) since Week 1 of the 2021 season left clubs “hesitant” to make a move for him.

Hours before the start of the 2023 NFL Draft this past Thursday, it was reported that Jackson and the Ravens agreed to a five-year deal worth up to $260M with $185M in guaranteed cash. Well-respected sports author and columnist John Feinstein has since said he “knew (the Ravens) weren’t trading Jackson,” and Zirin noted that Baltimore “had the cash all along” to pay the 2018 first-round draft pick. 

“During the most difficult moments of this negotiation, the players were universal in their support,” Zirin continued. “Make no mistake: This kind of victory for a Black quarterback — a group historically denied, derided and denigrated — is noticed beyond Maryland…(Jackson) returns to Charm City with a contract in his pocket, as someone who looked at the NFL — with all their money and power — and made the billionaires blink.” 

Whether or not Jackson “won” by accepting under $200M in guaranteed money months before the July 17 deadline for teams to sign tagged players is a matter of opinion. Zirin’s piece hints that talk about owners colluding as it pertains to Jackson and other players won’t disappear just because the 2019 NFL MVP has his new deal.