Baltimore Ravens owner takes shot at Cleveland Browns, Deshaun Watson

After the Cleveland Browns made a blockbuster trade for former Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, they rewarded him with a fully guaranteed $230 million contract which changed the way contract negotiations are viewed moving forward in the NFL. Despite his career numbers supporting his status, off-field issues made the move controversial at best with many questions about it.

Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti, a divisional rival, called the Deshaun Watson deal into question during an interview with ESPN. He not only questioned Watson himself, but the precedent set by the blockbuster deal.

“I don’t know that he should’ve been the first guy to get a fully guaranteed contract,” said Bisciotti, via ESPN’s Jamison Hensley. “To me, that’s something that is groundbreaking, and it’ll make negotiations harder with others.”

Watson is currently facing a civil case with multiple sexual misconduct allegations against him from a group of women. The Browns told reporters that they conducted their own independent investigation of the details surrounding the case and felt comfortable despite the chance of NFL intervention with a suspension in 2022.

Steve Bisciotti also faces his own quarterback conundrum outside of Deshaun Watson as contract extension talks with Lamar Jackson continue ahead of the 2023 free agency window where he can hit the open market. With the market now reset, the asking price will likely go up in the coming months.

Lamar Jackson contract talks

The Baltimore Ravens have yet to make a commitment to Lamar Jackson on a long-term contract extension, but head coach John Harbaugh remains confident that a deal will come in the near future.

“I’m confident it’s gonna happen,” Harbaugh said, via ProFootballTalk. “Like you guys well know, until it happens it hasn’t happened but I’m confident it’s going to happen. I know he’s going to be our quarterback. Really when you’re coaching and you’re playing, that’s what you think about.”

Jackson has been a star ever since he was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, falling all the way to 32nd-overall pick. But the franchise has yet to reach an agreement with Jackson on a long-term extension, and he will presumably play out the last year under contract while talks are ongoing. If the two sides are unable to reach an agreement before the end of the year, the Ravens are able to use the franchise tag to keep Jackson in Baltimore.

Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta previously said it has been an “unusual negotiation” with Jackson, his star quarterback, because Jackson does not have a traditional agent — in other words, he is approaching Jackson directly for contract inquiries.