LAST MOMENTS BEFORE RAVENS MAKE "THE DECISION" ON LAMAR JACKSON & THE FRANCHISE TAG

The franchise tag is a mechanism used in the NFL to retain a player for one season by offering a one-year contract with a salary based on the average of the top five salaries at the player's position or 120 percent of the player's previous salary, whichever is greater. The player can either sign the franchise tag offer and play for the team for one more year, negotiate a long-term deal with the team, or sit out the season and not play.

If the Ravens choose to use the franchise tag on Lamar Jackson, it would mean that they want to keep him on the team for at least one more season but haven't agreed on a long-term contract yet. The decision to use the franchise tag is not one that teams take lightly, as it can have significant financial and strategic implications. The Ravens will need to carefully consider their options and make a decision that is in the best interests of the team and the player.