Lamar Jackson was a man of few words Sunday, but he only needed two to make it clear why his high-profile contract negotiation stalled. 

Asked after throwing for three touchdowns to lead the Ravens to a 24-9 season-opening victory against the Jets if it was true that he turned down a $250 million extension from the Ravens, Jackson said, “Fully guaranteed?” 

With that rhetorical question, the 2019 NFL MVP confirmed what has been suspected: He is looking for a fully guaranteed contract that tops the outlier given by the Browns to Deshaun Watson to entice him to waive a no-trade clause, not a contract similar to the ones recently signed by the Broncos’ Russell Wilson and Cardinals’ Kyler Murray averaging more than $45 million per year. 

ESPN reported the Ravens offered Jackson a five-year, $250 million extension with more than $133 million guaranteed before the quarterback’s self-imposed Friday deadline to get a deal done. In an apparent misunderstanding, Jackson said “there is no truth to that” all $250 million was fully guaranteed and then he was hurried off the podium by a Ravens official after less than two minutes of media availability. 

If Jackson’s plan is to play well enough this season to force the Ravens into caving to his demands, he got off to a good start. For all the critics who still say he is too reliant on his legs and cannot beat defenses playing quarterback in the traditional sense, Jackson carried six times for 17 yards — his fourth-lowest rushing total in 43 games since 2019 — but still was the best player on the field with a 98.3 quarterback rating. 

Jackson was playing for the first time since Dec. 12, after missing the final four games last season with an injury and sitting out the preseason as a precaution. The Ravens can use the franchise tag (about $45 million) to keep him off free agency in 2023. 

“Understanding his evolution as a quarterback in this league, anybody who says he can’t win from the pocket is just not watching the tape,” said Jets defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, a former teammate of Jackson’s at Louisville. 

“He’s proven over and over that he’s able to complete the throws that are necessary for any big-time quarterback to make and then he adds in the element that he’s faster than pretty much everybody on the field at any given time. He presents a challenge no matter how you draw up things. That’s why he’s been MVP of this league and trying to get the contract he’s trying to get.” 

With both offenses stalling in the first half, Jackson saw the Jets change personnel and bring in backup cornerback Bryce Hall in a dime package. He immediately attacked Hall for a 25-yard touchdown and added second-half touchdown throws of 17 and 55 yards, later laughing off a question of whether one was the increasingly popular no-look pass by saying he is “not playing street ball.” 

“I thought Lamar played outstanding,” coach John Harbaugh said. “He played a patient, veteran QB game. He was in control of everything.” 

The agent-less Jackson is trying to control his own destiny, too.