Lamar Jackson Rumors: Team Could Offer QB 'Goofy' Contract to Hurt Ravens Salary Cap

The Baltimore Ravens may come to regret giving the non-exclusive franchise tag to Lamar Jackson.

Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post spoke to one agent who suggested a rival team could give Jackson an offer sheet with a "goofy contract structure" meant to complicate the Ravens' cap sheet moving forward.

In a world where Daniel Jones ($160 million) and Derek Carr ($150 million) are landing jaw-dropping contracts, Jackson's situation is befuddling.

The Ravens' decision to tender the non-exclusive tag alone was a bit of a shock. While the move could save them nearly $13 million versus the exclusive tag ($45 million vs. $32.4 million), it opens the possibility of losing Jackson for just two first-round draft picks if Baltimore refuses to match an offer sheet.

Even more confusing was the number of teams already seemingly ruled out of the Jackson sweepstakes. Reports have already ruled out the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Washington Commanders and Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins are the only team in that foursome that has a quality option at quarterback in place.

Keep in mind: Jackson is 46-19 as a starter, a former NFL MVP and just turned 26 years old. While his run-heavy style is a bit of a long-term injury concern, teams are still buying the unquestioned remaining prime years of his career with this next contract. Given the deals offered to Jones and Carr, mediocre quarterbacks who don't scratch the surface of Jackson's talent, deals offering $200 million over four years should be flying in from a bunch of quarterback-needy teams.

Putting in sneaky cap machinations to convince the Ravens to not match should be the goal. Instead, a weird cooling effect seems to be going on, and it's hard to figure out.