Jackson's rookie contract expires at the end of the season and if the two sides cannot agree on a new deal, the Ravens may opt to trade him before he enters free agency or place the franchise tag on him. According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Jackson, and the Ravens could be as much as $100 million apart in contract talks, and trade discussions are reportedly on the horizon. However, Jackson's injury history has complicated negotiations. Despite missing 5 games in the past two seasons and the team's Wild Card Round loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, Jackson's record as a starter (45-16) demonstrates his importance to the franchise.
The outcome of Jackson and the Ravens' contract negotiations leading up to free agency will be intriguing to follow.