Ravens OC Todd Monken not worried if Lamar Jackson holds out

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — At his introductory news conference Tuesday, new Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken praised quarterback Lamar Jackson for an «elite skillset» and believes he's underrated as a passer.

It's just unknown when Monken can tell that to Jackson face-to-face.

There's a possibility that Jackson will skip all of the offseason spring workouts and training camp if he receives the franchise tag. The Ravens are expected to place the tag on Jackson to keep him from becoming an unrestricted free agent if the sides are unable to agree on a new contract in two weeks. The window to use the tag started Tuesday and ends on March 7.

Monken didn't sound worried that Jackson could wait until the week before the regular-season opener to report, which would give him little time to learn the new offensive system.

«Sure, he'll be behind, but it's still just football,» Monken said. «Sometimes we make this out to be way too much. We'll cater to what he knows and play.»

The biggest challenge to an extended holdout by Jackson is developing a rapport with him, Monken added.

«I mean it's like any player, the more time you spend with them, the more comfortable they get with any system. That's more relationship and that's part of it. And there's a big part of that relationship from a quarterback, coordinator, playcaller, position coach where they're comfortable and there's a trust. And that's built over time.»

It's been over two years since Jackson has been eligible for a contract extension. A new deal will likely only occur if one of the sides back of their stance regarding guaranteed contracts. Jackson wants a fully guaranteed contract like the one that was given to Deshaun Watson last year, and Baltimore considers