"What are the Ravens without him?" - Colin Cowherd urges franchise to pay Lamar Jackson

Lamar Jackson is currently seeking an extension as he heads into the 2022 season, and Colin Cowherd believes the Baltimore Ravens have no good reason not to give it to him.

Speaking on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, he said that the Ravens would be nothing without their star signal-caller. He also thinks that paying the quarterback is a necessity if they want to contend in a loaded AFC North.

"But in a division now with Deshaun Watson and Joe Burrow. If you don't have Lamar, I'll ask the question. What are you in a division with…? So I feel the same way about Lamar, what are the Ravens without him?"

"You have to pay Lamar Jackson period. Remember over 50% of first round quarterbacks wiff, that's first round quarterbacks... they don't pan out."

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Potential Lamar Jackson contract extension terms

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray was recently given a five-year extension worth $230.5 million, including $160 million in guarantees. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported the news on Thursday. Lamar Jackson could be looking for a similarly structured deal.

NBC Sports' Mike Florio believes the Ravens should give him a slightly more lucrative deal to placate Jackson. The latter is negotiating a new deal without an agent, with his mother Felicia handling the matter.

"The Ravens should kick in an extra $500,000 to the five-year contract, making it a five-year, $231 million extension. New-money average of $46.2 million per year. Jackson gets $100,000 more per year in new money than Murray, who got $100,000 more per year in new money than Watson."

The deal Florio has in mind for No. 8 would have certain prerequisites before being fully guaranteed, like Deshaun Watson's disastrous deal with the Cleveland Browns.

"The key for the team will be the other terms. Only $103 million fully guaranteed at signing, not $230 million. Millions tied to participating in offseason workouts and playing in games.

"While it would be a good, fair deal for Jackson, it would fall far short of the contract that Cleveland gave Watson."

Whatever the case, the Ravens risk angering Jackson and his camp. The star QB could threaten to sit out the season and/or force a trade if Baltimore plays games in negotiations.

The Murray deal left a blueprint for the Ravens to follow; whether or not they do is now the story of the offseason.

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