The Baltimore Ravens have been faced with many questions surrounding the potential contract extention that Lamar Jackson is set to receive. It’d come as quite a shock if Baltimore wasn’t able agree to a long-term deal with Jackson, as it seems like both parties are interested in working out an agreement.
When asked about any updates regarding negotiations with Jackson, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta seemed confident that things were progressing at the right pace. He called Jackson “a very patient guy”, and said that contract talks are “ongoing” and “fluid”
"That's ongoing."
GM Eric DeCosta on extension conversations with Lamar: pic.twitter.com/vlsVf9htCH
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) April 19, 2021
DeCosta has noted that he’s spent time talking with Jackson during the offseason, although he made clear that the conversations they’ve had are general ones and don’t purely surround extension talks. The two seem to have a good relationship with each other, and that should help when it comes time to grind through the negotiation process.
For the most part, contract talks don’t materialize overnight. It’s a long journey that can take a few days, weeks, or even months to complete. In Jackson’s case, there will be a lot of money involved in his next deal, so the best course of action for both him and the franchise is to progress at a good pace and not go too fast.
Jackson is an extremely important piece to the Ravens. He is their franchise quarterback, both of the present and the future. Based off of his answer, DeCosta feels good about where things are right now with his signal caller, and doesn’t seem too worried about if a long-term deal will get done. After all, it feels like this situation is a matter of when, not if.