Not too long ago, it seemed like the Pittsburgh Steelers' road to the postseason would be getting easier. It seemed like Baltimore Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson was on his way out of town, as the front office wasn't living up to his contract demands. Well, things have changed.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley will remain the backup in Baltimore, as he struggled against the Steelers in 2022.
Sports reporter Josina Anderson reported on Thursday afternoon that the team is closing in on a deal with the 2019 NFL MVP. It will exceed the deal that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts just got, making him the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL now. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Hurts' deal pushed the Ravens to up their offer to Jackson.
One league source just told me Lamar Jackson's contract is a 5-year deal, $260M total. #Ravens
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) April 27, 2023
For teams like the Atlanta Falcons and Indianapolis Colts, the presumed favorites to acquire him, they must turn their attention elsewhere now. For the Colts specifically, it makes it essentially a lock that they select a quarterback fourth overall in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. For other darkhorse teams, they'll have to shift their attention elsewhere.
Now for the Steelers' sake, they aren't necessarily afraid of Jackson staying in Baltimore long-term. Somehow, the quarterback has played in just five games against Pittsburgh in his five-year career, as he's just 2-3 overall. The defense has continuously been able to slow him down, but he tortures other defenses around the league. Additionally, with the Aaron Rodgers trade becoming official earlier in the week, the AFC continues to be loaded with quarterbacks.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation.com (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
The pressure is on Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett to take a step forward in 2023 in the loaded AFC.
It continues to make it harder and harder for a team like the Steelers to sneak into the postseason, unless Kenny Pickett takes significant strides in Year 2. The NFL, and AFC specifically, continues to be quarterback-driven. As we've seen, it's quite difficult to contend for a Lombardi Trophy without an exceptional quarterback. The Steelers are set to face Jackson, Joe Burrow, and Deshaun Watson a combined six times a year for the foreseeable future.
How much does this hurt the Steelers' playoff chances?
If there is a silver lining to this news, well, there's two things. First, Jackson's game may not exactly age well as he gets older in his career. We've started to see some injuries, as shown in the 2022 campaign. Additionally, this contract sets the tone for what Burrow will ask for from the Cincinnati Bengals in the near future, a la next offseason. The Bengals will presumably have to exceed Jackson's contract, which will be quite the large sum of money.
What are your thoughts on this deal by Jackson and the Ravens? If Pickett takes the next step in 2023, can the Steelers compete with the Bengals and Ravens in the loaded AFC North? Do you think the black and gold will end up making the playoffs? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
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