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Just a week and a half after Jalen Hurts became the NFL's highest-paid player, now the NFL has a new highest-paid player.
The Lamar Jackson saga ended with the Ravens' signal caller signing a five-year deal for $260 million, $5 more than Hurts, which works out to $1 million per year more. He also got $75 million more in total guaranteed.
The extension ties Jackson to the Ravens until 2028. Jackson is a one-time MVP and one of the most dynamic players we have seen in a long time. But Jackson missed 10 games in the past two seasons and wasn't available for the 2021 playoffs. Is it worth it for the Ravens to spend more on him than the Eagles spent on Hurts?
Be sure to also check our other Week 14 fantasy football waiver wire pickups articles:- Running Back Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 14
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- Quarterback Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 14
QB Market After Lamar Jackson's Deal
Jackson's contract is the largest in terms of AAV and the second-largest in terms of total money. The specifics are not yet published, but if the reported figure of $185 fully guaranteed is accurate, that means it is also the second-largest in terms of guarantee. Deshaun Watson's $230 million contract is still the only one that is 100% guaranteed.
Lamar Jackson Won the Waiting Game
Jackson took a lot of flak for having no agent. He was criticized for supposedly being inflexible and irrational. But in the end, he comes out on top. He stays in Baltimore and sets a new standard that is sure to last until next season. He didn't get the fully-guaranteed deal he reportedly wanted, but he got pretty darn close.
The Ravens don't have to go back to the drawing board. They keep their franchise quarterback until he is past 30, and the front office avoids a lot of headache. They would have been heavily criticized if they lost Jackson at a time when their team is competitive and when every other contender in the AFC has an elite quarterback.
The Ravens added high-level talent to their receiver room. They signed Odell Beckham Jr and drafted Zay Flowers. In each of Beckham's past two seasons, the team he played for made the playoffs and won a playoff game. There is even talk that the Ravens could trade for DeAndre Hopkins.
Don't forget that they also signed Nelson Agholor to be their ̶W̶R̶3̶ ̶W̶R̶4̶ ̶W̶R̶5̶ WR6(?). Last season's WR1, Rashod Bateman, is still there. On paper, it's a very good receiving core, although there are question marks with each of them. Beckham missed all of last season as he was recovering from an ACL injury and will turn 31 during the season. Hopkins is 30 years old. There was a wide range of opinions about Zay Flowers, with some analysts thinking he was a reach in the first round. But there is no doubt the Ravens have a lot of potential with Lamar Jackson distributing the ball to them.
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