Lamar Jackson has been one of the most dynamic QBs in the NFL since entering the league in 2018. He is the face of the Baltimore Ravens offense, leading them to four playoff appearances in his first five seasons as a starter. Jackson is one of the top players in the league, delivering MVP-level seasons on a consistent basis, including his 2019 unanimous MVP campaign. 

However, not everyone believes that Jackson deserves a fully guaranteed contract from the Ravens. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith has been critical of Jackson over the years, but his latest tirade struck a nerve with many. On his primetime show First Take, Stephen A was seen pointing out Lamar’s injury history and frequent absence from the team. 

Lamar Jackson’s troubling injury history

Smith’s criticism is not unwarranted. Jackson has had his fair share of injuries in his young career. In 2020, he missed a game due to COVID-19, and he was not available for the Ravens’ playoff game against the Buffalo Bills due to a concussion. Since then, Lamar’s injury troubles have only escalated. The QB has missed significant time in the last two seasons, missing the end of the season and the entire postseason owing to injuries. 

As Stephen A Smith ranted on First Take:

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“When you haven’t finished the season the last 2 years, you missed the last 5 games of the last 2 years, you didn’t play in the playoffs either because you were unavailable. The best ability is availability and reliability, and those are two things that you haven’t been over the last couple of seasons. I have to count that against you.” 

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These injuries have raised concerns about Jackson’s durability and ability to stay healthy over the course of a long NFL season. Furthermore, Jackson’s performance in the playoffs has been lackluster. In his four playoff games, he has thrown only three touchdown passes and five interceptions. He has also fumbled three times, losing two of them. While Jackson’s regular season numbers are impressive, his playoff performance has left something to be desired.

Stephen A Smith drops a truth bomb about Lamar Jackson 

Smith’s comments came in response to reports that the Ravens had offered Jackson a five-year contract worth over $250 million with $133 million guaranteed. While this is certainly a massive contract, Smith believes that the Ravens should not empty the bank on Lamar Jackson. 

“He’s worth $50 million a year, 50 million times 4 is $200 million dollars guaranteed, I believe Lamar Jackson is worth $200 million guaranteed“, Smith said on First Take. 

Smith’s argument is not without merit. NFL contracts are typically not fully guaranteed, as teams want to protect themselves in case a player underperforms or suffers a serious injury. While Jackson has been a star in the regular season, there are legitimate concerns about his ability to stay healthy and perform well in the playoffs. By structuring the contract in a way that incentivizes Jackson to stay healthy and perform well in the playoffs, the Ravens can mitigate their risk while still rewarding their star QB.

As Stephen A suggested, a $200 million contract might still be on the table for Lamar. While this may not be the contract that Jackson is looking for, it would allow the Ravens to mitigate their risk while still rewarding their star QB. Ultimately, it will be up to the Ravens and Jackson to come to a contract agreement that works for both parties.

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