Shannon Sharpe recently weighed in on Lamar Jackson’s new $260 million contract and its details. While the contract fell slightly short of the expected $160 million in the first three years, Sharpe took a moment to give props to Lamar and his team. However, Sharpe also highlighted the immense pressure and scrutiny that comes with being a top sports star and encouraged Lamar to stay focused and mindful of the consequences of his newfound success.

In a thrilling game of contract chess, big contracts are always a hot topic, and the recent negotiation between QB Lamar and the Baltimore Ravens is no exception. However, what caught the attention of many fans was the warning from legendary analyst Shannon Sharpe.

Sharpe: Lamar Jackson’s contract falls short?

As per Sharpe, the contract Lamar Jackson signed may not be considered extraordinary, as some people initially thought it would be. He notes the main goal was to negotiate a contract that was better than what Baltimore Ravens initially offered him. Despite not reaching the $250 million mark or surpassing Deshaun Watson’s contract, everyone involved seems to be satisfied with the outcome of Jackson’s recently signed contract.

A significant analysis suggests, in terms of the total contract value, Lamar’s contract is higher at $260,000,000 compared to Deshaun Watson’s $230,000,000. However, it’s important to note that the guaranteed money in Watson’s contract is the full amount, while Jackson’s contract guarantees $185,000,000.

Regarding average annual salary, Lamar reigns supreme with a jaw-dropping average annual salary of $52 million, outshining Deshaun’s $46 million.

Looking at the 2023 earnings, Lamar is going to earn $7,500,000 as his regular salary and an additional $72,500,000 as a bonus for signing a contract. While Deshaun will receive a base salary of $1,080,000 and a restructuring bonus of $44,920,000.

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In terms of cap hit, Lamar’s 2023 cap hit is $22,000,000, while Deshaun has a cap hit of $19,057,000.

Lastly, the dead cap value indicates the financial liability a team would incur if a player is released. Lamar’s dead cap value in 2023 is $112,500,000, whereas Deshaun’s dead cap value is significantly higher at $220,057,000.

The result of this straight comparison indicates Lamar has a higher total contract value and average annual salary, while Deshaun has the advantage of fully guaranteed money and a lower dead cap value.

Sharpe: Star warned; dire consequences loom ahead.

Legend analyst straightly warns, that athletes should be paid based on what they will do in the future, not just what they have done in the past. If Jackson plays well, the team will probably change the contract and give him more money. If he doesn’t do well enough, they might decide to fire him.

“I don’t care because here’s the thing, after the first three years, if he doesn’t play well, they’re gonna release him. If he plays well, they’re gonna redo the deal. So the last two years of the contract were unimportant to me.” – Shannon Sharpe explained.

Sharpe also expressed, despite hearing negative comments and rumors during the negotiations, Sharpe believes that Jackson deserves the contract and will show his value in the future. Importantly, his analysis emphasized that the last two years of the contract may be less important, Sharpe focused on the first three years and considered the deal to be great for Jackson.

“I think everybody’s happy in the end, I look at it like a win-win for everybody,” per Sharpe.

Sharpe believes both Baltimore and Jackson benefited from the negotiation, and other teams are not criticizing the Ravens for the contract. But what’s the fans’ take?

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