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Lamar Jackson is in a complicated situation with the Baltimore Ravens during the 2023 NFL offseason. His future continues to be in limbo. The two sides have been struggling to come to an agreement on a long-term contract extension for more than a year now.
To avoid Jackson becoming an unrestricted free agent, the Ravens placed their non-exclusive franchise tag on him. Their decision gives Jackson the freedom to negotiate a contract with any team during the 2023 NFL free agency period. The catch is that the Ravens have the ability to match any offer sheet he signs.
As long as they match the best offer on the table, they will keep Lamar Jackson in Baltimore. If they pass on matching it, Jackson can sign with the new team in exchange for two first-round picks in the NFL Draft.
It's unclear whether or not Lamar Jackson desires to remain with the Ravens or if the franchise wants to eventually sign him to a long-term contract. The negotiations continue to stall, and rumors of every possible scenario have surfaced at one point or another.
According to a recent "Pro Football Talk" update:
"Per multiple sources, a representative for Jackson has contacted more than one team in an effort to spark negotiations aimed at a possible offer sheet. The representative is not certified by the NFL Players Association.
"As one source explained it, the person has said that Jackson does not want a fully-guaranteed contract. Some regard this as a possible exercise in semantics, with Jackson still wanting a very significant amount fully guaranteed — up to $200 million or more — with one more non-guaranteed years on the back end.
"Another source said that the representative is telling other teams that Lamar is ready to move on from the Ravens."
Their sources stated that Lamar Jackson is ready to move on from the Ravens during the 2023 NFL offseason, so he's currently seeking an offer sheet from a new team. Further complicating the situation is the fact that Jackson currently doesn't have an agent.
Instead, he is representing himself. PFT, however, claims he's using another negotiator who is not certified by the NFLPA. Teams have apparently been instructed not to engage in contract talks with anyone other than the players themselves or agents officially certified with the NFLPA.
Is Lamar Jackson the only NFL player without an agent?
According to the NFLPA, Lamar Jackson is one of only 17 current players who represent themselves, instead of hiring an agent. DeAndre Hopkins and Bobby Wagner are two of the most notable other names on the list. Both have negotiated major contracts in the past, making them some of the highest-paid players in their position. While Jackson's case is rare, he's not the only one.
