The Ravens have used the franchise tag on quarterback Lamar Jackson, the team announced Tuesday before the league’s 4 p.m. deadline.
Baltimore placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on the former NFL MVP, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
The designation means Jackson, 26, can negotiate and sign an offer sheet with any other NFL team.
The Ravens still have the option to match an opposing offer sheet or receive two first-round picks if they decline.
The non-exclusive tag comes with a 2023 salary of $32.5 million, which is about $13 million less than the exclusive tag would have cost.
If Jackson is unable to secure a deal with another team, he would remain with the Ravens for another year upon signing the tag.
“Having not yet reached a long-term deal with Lamar Jackson, we will use the franchise tag,” Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said. “There have been many instances across the league and in Baltimore when a player has been designated with the franchise tag and signed a long-term deal that same year.
“We will continue to negotiate in good faith with Lamar, and we are hopeful that we can strike a long-term deal that is fair to both Lamar and the Ravens.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson runs the ball against the Broncos at M&T Bank Stadium on Dec. 4, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. Getty Images“Our ultimate goal is to build a championship team with Lamar Jackson leading the way for many years to come.”
Though it is unclear which teams may be interested in Jackson’s services, the Falcons will not be pursuing the quarterback, according to ESPN’s Dianna Russini.
DeCosta mentioned that the Ravens have a history of tagging players and negotiating a deal at a later date — which is something they’ve done with five of their previous seven franchise-tagged players.
Jackson is the first quarterback to get the franchise tag from the Ravens.
The Ravens and Jackson — who does not have an agent and is representing himself — have until July 17 to negotiate and get a long-term deal done before Jackson would have to be on the tag for 2023. If they can’t reach an agreement by that NFL-mandated deadline, a new deal can’t be signed until after the 2023 season.
The sides have been unable to reach a long-term deal since Jackson became eligible for a contract extension over two years ago.
Jackson is reportedly seeking a deal similar to the fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract the Browns gave to quarterback Deshaun Watson.
However, Baltimore hasn’t budged on paying Jackson a Watson-sized deal.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson takes questions after practice at the Under Armour Performance Center. TNSOn Monday, Pelissero reported that DeCosta recently flew to Jackson’s hometown of Miami in hopes of working toward a long-term deal.
DeCosta said at the NFL Scouting Combine that the franchise tag would not stop negotiations with Jackson.
“By us franchising Lamar, that doesn’t exclude us from getting a long-term deal done. That’s been done 1,000 times in the league,” DeCosta said at the combine. “Yes, there is a timeframe, but the timeframe does move — albeit there are some different dynamics involved.
“I don’t want to live in a world where there is no optimism, where I’m just going to give up hope.”
If the Ravens had put the exclusive tag on Jackson, it would have come with a protected salary of $45 million for the 2023 season, and would have prevented other teams from signing him.
