$750K gone! Lamar Jackson's bold OTA decision leads to major financial hit — is there more to the story?

Time of India

7 hours ago

Lamar Jackson has once again made headlines—not for dazzling throws or jaw-dropping runs, but for his continued absence from the Baltimore Ravens' voluntary OTAs. As of Friday, Jackson had missed five of the team's six organized team activities this offseason.
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His only appearance so far came earlier in the sessions, raising eyebrows among fans and analysts who expected more from the star quarterback, especially given what's at stake financially.
Lamar Jackson's OTA absence just cost him $750K
Under the terms of his latest contract, Jackson was eligible to earn a $750,000 bonus for attending at least 80% of OTAs, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. By missing more than 20% of these workouts, he's effectively forfeited that bonus.
That decision has sparked debate—not only because of the substantial amount of money left on the table but also due to what it suggests about Jackson's offseason priorities.
Still, within the Ravens' building, there's no sense of panic. Head coach John Harbaugh made it clear that Jackson's absence isn't ringing any alarm bells. 'You measure, for any player, how they play,' Harbaugh stated. 'I'm not measuring, really, the attendance.
I mean it's a voluntary camp, so I'm not measuring that... He's my guy, I love him.' It's a message that speaks volumes about the organization's trust in their franchise quarterback, even when he chooses to chart his own course during the offseason.
Jackson's approach isn't unfamiliar. He skipped several OTAs last year as well—only to return and play at an MVP-caliber level throughout the regular season. That precedent seems to be part of the reason why Harbaugh remains so relaxed.
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'Lamar, the day he was out of here, played great. I could see he was in great shape, threw the ball great, made the right reads, knew the offense in an excellent kind of way,' the coach emphasized, showing confidence that Jackson can quickly regain form when it matters.
Interestingly, general manager Eric DeCosta recently acknowledged that extension talks with Jackson have taken place, hinting that there might be more to his absence than meets the eye.
Yet Harbaugh refused to speculate, choosing to focus solely on what Jackson delivers on the field.
Despite the financial loss—$750,000 this year and a cumulative $1.5 million over the last two years—Jackson seems unfazed. Florio remarked, 'There's really nothing to say. He has now given up $1.5 million by failing to participate in offseason workouts. If/when there's a new deal, he should push the Ravens to dump the workout bonuses.'
Whether that becomes part of Jackson's negotiation tactics remains to be seen.
The Ravens are coming off a strong 2024 campaign, but once again, playoff disappointment derailed their Super Bowl hopes. With a roster packed with talent and Jackson improving year after year, expectations remain sky-high. The MVP-level quarterback knows the pressure is mounting—not just to win games but to silence critics who question his postseason legacy.
Jackson is expected to report for mandatory minicamp from June 17-19. When he does, all eyes will be on him—not for what he skipped, but for how he performs. After all, that's the measure that matters most.
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