Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti says Deshaun Watson's contract with Cleveland Browns complicates QB market

PALM BEACH, Fla. — Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti acknowledged Tuesday that Deshaun Watson's record-setting contract could have ripple effects for quarterback deals going forward, including the one for Lamar Jackson.

On March 18, Watson received a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract from the Cleveland Browns after getting traded by the Houston Texans. That's $80 million more than the previous NFL record for fully guaranteed money at signing.

Now, the Ravens are looking to negotiate a contract extension with Jackson, who is entering his fifth-year option.

«I'm trying to answer that when I had a reaction to it. And it's like, 'Damn, I wish they hadn't guaranteed the whole contract,'» Bisciotti said Tuesday at the NFL league meetings. «I don't know that he should've been the first guy to get a fully guaranteed contract. To me, that's something that is groundbreaking, and it'll make negotiations harder with others.»

Bisciotti then added, «But it doesn't necessarily mean that we have to play that game, you know? We shall see. If I was in bogged-down negotiations with Lamar, then maybe I would have a quicker reaction to that news.»

Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta previously said this offseason that the team has reached out to start contract talks with Jackson. But Jackson hasn't shown any urgency to get a deal done.

If the sides can't reach a new contract by next offseason, the Ravens would have to place a franchise tag on him to keep him from becoming a free agent.

Bisciotti called Jackson's decision to wait «unique as hell because everybody expects you to say, 'I've got to get mine now.'»

«The kid is so obsessed with winning a Super Bowl, that I think deep down, he doesn't think he's worthy,»