Now or Never For Lamar Jackson?

Since being taken with the 32^nd pick of the 2018 draft out of Louisville, Lamar Jackson has put together an outstanding trophy cabinet, however one thing is missing, and he may be running out of time to secure it.

The 2-time MVP, 3-time first team All-Pro, 4-time Pro Bowler, (and Heisman trophy winner of 2016), has done it all, except for playing (and winning) on the final day of the season. Despite this, Baltimore fans have rightfully fallen in love with their franchise quarterback, who has consistently put them in the Super Bowl picture for the best part of a decade.

But Jackson, who will turn 30 before SB LXI, has just 2 years remaining on his 5-year, $260 million contract that he signed to stay with Baltimore in May 2023 after requesting a trade just a couple of months prior. With star running back Derrick Henry entering the final year of his deal and long-term reliable tight end Mark Andrews notably declining over the past 2 seasons – just how many more chances will Jackson get to accomplish the feat that has evaded him throughout his career?

Jackson himself has been criticised widely for poor performance in the playoffs relative to his regular season production, with his passer rating dropping 13.2 points and his passing touchdown to interception ratio more than halving. The Baltimore faithful tend to find Mark Andrews’ drop at the end of the 2025 divisional round in Buffalo or Tyler Loop’s missed field goal to miss the playoffs against Pittsburgh to be more memorable, but there is no doubt that they need their superstar quarterback to replicate his 2019 and 2023 MVP-winning regular season production if they are to go all the way this February.

The Ravens enter the season as co-favourites to win the AFC and progress to the Super Bowl, but speculation is rising among fans that this contract might be his last in Baltimore, before passing the baton and moving elsewhere to close out his career.

Being from the Florida area, the Miami Dolphins could be considered one to watch in a theoretical ‘Lamar Jackson-sweepstakes’. Despite the free agent signing of Malik Willis, he appears to be more of a bridging piece while Miami’s front office assesses how they will source their long-term solution at quarterback and they would absolutely benefit from the 2-time MVP’s leadership, experience, and individual brilliance whilst progressing through their rebuild.

Jackson hasn’t been scared to make his frustrations with the Ravens organisation known over the years, so this is no doubt an intriguing situation to monitor throughout the season, although his focus remains set on delivering Charm City its first Super Bowl victory since 2013.

What do you think? Will Lamar Jackson get his fairytale ending in Baltimore, or will there forever be a Lombardi-sized void in his prestigious trophy cabinet?