Daniel Jones and Lamar Jackson had vastly different experiences on the NFL’s franchise tag deadline day.
The impasse between Jackson and the Ravens stood firm Tuesday when Baltimore applied the non-exclusive tag to the 2019 NFL MVP, who now is available for trade. Jones, meanwhile, avoided having to play another contract year by signing a reported four-year, $160 million deal with the New York Giants.
Jackson obviously is a far superior quarterback to Jones, whose “career season” saw him throw for 3,205 yards with 15 touchdowns. So when the Giants signal-caller landed a big payday amid Jackson’s wait for a new contract, NFL Twitter took aim at the former.
Comparing Jones’ and Jackson’s situations probably is an apples-and-oranges dynamic. The Ravens most likely would be delighted to sign Jackson to the aforementioned deal Jones landed in New York, especially considering only half of the money reportedly is guaranteed. But the two-time Pro Bowl selection apparently wants a deal that far exceeds those figures, one that mirrors the fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million deal Deshaun Watson landed in Cleveland last year.
Baltimore has its own way of doing business, so it’s not surprising to see the franchise not give in to Jackson’s reported wishes. The real question mark is why are so few teams reportedly interested in trading for Jackson.
