Perhaps one of the biggest stories being talked about during the 2022 NFL season has been Lamar Jackson’s contract. Jackson is heading into his fifth season with the Baltimore Ravens still on his rookie deal. Baltimore took Jackson’s fifth-year option, but Jackson and the Ravens were not able to come up with an agreement on an extension for the former MVP.

Quarterbacks are being paid more than ever nowadays in the NFL. In 2020, Patrick Mahomes was given a ten-year, $450 million contract that will last until the 2031 NFL season. This is not only the biggest contract in NFL history, but that’s also the biggest contract in American sports history. It’s safe to say that teams are making huge splashes.

These splashes have continued into the 2022 season. Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray received a five-year $230.5-million extension. Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson also received a five-year deal worth even more than Murray’s, at $242.5 million. Both of these superstar quarterbacks are guaranteed at least $100 million dollars at signing.

But Murray and Wilson aren’t the problem for Jackson; Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is.

Watson was dealt to Cleveland from Houston in exchange for three first-round picks (2022, 2023, 2024), one third-round pick (2023), and two fourth-round picks (2022, 2024). Once there he signed an extension with Cleveland worth $230 million for five years. The big thing to note is that Watson was guaranteed 230 million dollars at signing.

Jackson and the Ravens kept their negotiations private and it was said that they would only keep negotiating until the start of the regular season. They never came up with an agreement. However, it is believed that Jackson was offered a contract of $ 250 million, which would have been $20 million more than Watson. However, he was only offered 133 million dollars at signing. This is Jackson’s problem.

Jackson has achieved much more than Watson by far. Watson so far in his career has been selected to the Pro Bowl three times and has a career record of 28-25-0. Watson did miss all of the 2021 NFL season due to the accusations of sexual misconduct. Watson is a good quarterback, but he is nothing compared to Lamar Jackson.

Jackson has single-handedly made the Baltimore Ravens a Superbowl contender every year. Jackson was 2019 MVP. In that season he threw for 3,127 yards, 36 touchdowns to nine interceptions, as well as rushed for 1,206 yards and seven touchdowns all while leading his team to a 13-2 record and the playoffs. Jackson has been selected to the Pro Bowl twice as well as an all-pro once. It’s no secret that Jackson is a gamechanger, the players know it, the coaches know it, the fans know it and most importantly, he knows it.

This is why he has chosen to hold out until the end of the season. Jackson doesn’t even have an agent. However, his mother acts as one of his “supervisors.” Jackson has truly bet on himself.

It’s safe to say that bet is working. Through just four games Jackson has thrown for 893 yards, 11 touchdowns to 4 interceptions and rushed for 316 yards and 2 touchdowns. These stats are showing that not only is he making his case to be paid more, he’s making a case to be the MVP of the league.

There is no reason that a quarterback like Watson who isn’t as good as Jackson, should be paid more. If Baltimore doesn’t match this offer including the guaranteed money, then Jackson will not resign. Baltimore has developed their entire offense around Jackson. They desperately need to resign the former MVP.

Teams will be throwing Jackson ridiculous amounts of money this off-season. Any team needing a quarterback is in contention for the former MVP, maybe even the Detroit Lions.