Lamar Jackson has asked Baltimore to trade him

[The Franchise]

Well yeah…that might be a hold up.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler believes Lamar Jackson isn't demanding a fully-guaranteed contract, "just that the guaranteed portion of it be larger than [Deshaun] Watson's."

Fowler cited sources at this week's NFL owners meetings who believe Jackson, who has requested a trade from Baltimore, isn't holding out for a fully-guaranteed deal as long as he gets more than the $230 million in guarantees that Watson inexplicably got from the Browns in 2022. NFL team after NFL team has come out against the concept of a full-guaranteed contract, with coaches and owners saying they have no interest in Jackson, a 26-year-old former MVP. While Jackson's injuries in 2021 and 2022 are often cited by his critics, Watson has suffered two torn ACLs -- injuries that did not stop him from receiving the league's first fully-guaranteed contract. Perhaps the clarity provided by Fowler will generate a market for the elite quarterback no one seems to want. Fowler added "the Ravens seem to be the team that wants him the most, for whatever that's worth."