OWINGS MILLS, Md. – Baltimore Ravens ’contractual talks with Lamar Jackson will not be affected by Dak Prescott’s record deal with the Dallas Cowboys, CEO Eric DeCosta said Tuesday.
“If you get to the Bentley dealership or the Range Rover dealership, you already know how much the cars will cost. You won’t get much of a discount,” DeCosta said. “They all cost about the same thing and you come in with the idea that you will either buy the car or you won’t buy the car … In the end, they are very big contracts. They are exceptional players. They are quarterback offers. They are brand players and you know you will pay a lot, but you get a lot in return. “
On Monday, Prescott agreed to a four-year, $ 160 million contract with the Cowboys that includes a $ 66 million signing bonus, the highest in NFL history, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter . Prescott’s average of $ 40 million a year is just behind Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes ($ 45 million per season).
DeCosta said he has held recent individual talks with Jackson around a long-term deal. But the parties have not initiated formal negotiations and have not exchanged contract proposals.
“We are confident and committed to trying to reach a long-term agreement and hope we can do so at some point in the near future,” DeCosta said. “It may take a while, but we’re willing to give it a try.”
Jackson, 24, is entering the final year of his $ 9.5 million novelty contract. He is expected to earn $ 1.771 billion in 2021, which currently ranks 23rd among the quarterbacks, after leading the Ravens to the playoffs in each of his three seasons and winning the NFL MVP Award in 2019.
Baltimore can technically prevent Jackson from being a free agent at least during the 2023 season if he exercises his fifth-year option and uses the franchise label. The process for signing franchise quarterbacks can be lengthy. It took the Cowboys and Prescott three years to reach an agreement.
But DeCosta said his approach to Jackson will not change as the talks in Dallas with Prescott unfold.
“Every negotiation is different. Every player is different. Every GM is different,” DeCosta said. “We have a strategy and we have a relationship. Lamar has played three years, and you know what, he’s a good player. We feel really good about him. I think he really feels good about us. It’s up to us to get deal done.”
DeCosta indicated that he does not know whether Jackson will continue to represent himself or hire an agent.
According to DeCosta, he has had a couple of conversations with Jackson since he finished the season and spent time with him a few weeks ago. DeCosta said they talked about the team, Jackson’s family, as well as their goals and dreams for the future.
“We laughed a lot,” DeCosta said. “It’s been very healthy and very good. We started talking about what a contract might be like, but we really didn’t necessarily get into all the weeds and nuances of all that kind of stuff, but that will come at some point soon.”
DeCosta added: “We will be as transparent as possible with Lamar. He will be as transparent as possible with us. It will definitely be a good relationship and collaboration.”
DeCosta addressed other issues during his 36-minute press conference:
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The Ravens have begun preliminary talks with Mark Andrews, the Pro Bowl finalist, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract. “I love everything about Mark: his personality, his ability, his work ethic, his behavior, his competitiveness,” DeCosta said. “He’s the kind of guy we want to keep.”
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DeCosta said there is no deadline for a possible Pro Bowl offensive attack trade Orlando Brown Jr., who expressed his desire to play left on social media. “He’s hired and he understands that,” DeCosta said. “We’ll do our best for Orlando and we’ll do our best for the Ravens.”
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The Earl Thomas security grievance continues and will not be resolved any time soon. Thomas was cut last August after punching teammate Chuck Clark in practice. If the Ravens win the grievance, they will get an additional $ 5 million in maximum space. If Baltimore loses, it will take $ 5 million.