In March 2023, the Baltimore Ravens issued a “non-exclusive franchise tag” to quarterback Lamar Jackson. This move would prove to be a watershed moment for the quarterback’s career. At 26-years-old, Jackson had already collected an MVP award. Yet, he was not without temptation when it came to what lay on his horizon in the NFL. Nonetheless, even with those honors, no other team called on him after using the franchise tag. This provided Jackson the opportunity to negotiate and sign a non-exclusive offer sheet with any other team. At the same time, the Ravens would have the opportunity to match any offer he was offered.
The franchise tag situation highlighted the ongoing challenges within the league regarding contractual negotiations, particularly for high-profile quarterbacks like Jackson. In the end, he chose to re-sign with the Ravens. His announcement came just weeks after he won his second MVP award in 2023. This remarkable accomplishment cemented his place as one of the league’s greatest quarterbacks.
In June 2022, the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) rattled this status quo by filing an unfair labor practice complaint. They targeted NFL team owners for colluding against quarterbacks, Jackson included. The trouble was, the complaint alleged, owners were purposely not giving out fully guaranteed contracts to quarterbacks. The union viewed this provision as an existential threat to players’ rights and financial security.
Arbitrator Christopher Droney ruled on this objection and determined that there was sufficient evidence of collusion between owners. The decision expressed a pre-emptive intent to reduce the number of contracts guaranteed. This trend has had jaws dropping across the league.
Commissioner Roger Goodell and league general counsel Jeff Pash lobbied team owners against guaranteed deals for players. Most notably, this guidance has raised new alarm bells with players and their representatives contract negotiations by creating an uneven playing field shrown in ambiguity and secrecy.
The saga leading up to Jackson’s use of the non-exclusive franchise tag and his eventual contract has become a symbol of what is wrong in the NFL. The NFLPA’s outside counsel, Jim Quinn, expressed serious concerns about the union’s leadership and its effectiveness in protecting players’ interests.
“It would be an outrageous conflict for the head of a labor union to have an interest in a third party that is aligned with the NFL.” – Jim Quinn
Taken together, the allegations of collusion paint a systemic and pervasive picture of a league intent on suppressing player pay. Quarterback contracts have always been lightning rods for criticism. This last point from Jackson’s case illustrates an important detail. If even elite players are vulnerable to the pitfalls of complicated contracts when their own union is unable or unwilling to protect them.
He did an outstanding job on the field. The lack of interest from any other teams after his franchise tag may say just as much, highlighting the strange dynamics of the NFL market. Players like Jackson, who have both talent and awards to back it up, should be a pretty hot commodity among several franchises. Yet, the current landscape seems to be pushing toward a relatively conservative stance from clubs on how they proceed with contracts.
Debates over player rights and contract structures continue. Jackson’s success could lead to long overdue, monumental changes across the league. Whatever the result of the NFLPA’s complaint, it is sure to affect future bargaining and establish important practices for how quarterbacks are paid.
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