Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens reacts prior to an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on September 28, 2025
Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens reacts prior to an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on September 28, 2025
The Baltimore Ravens knew Lamar Jackson was special from the start. The team selected the quarterback in the first round of the 2018 draft and never looked back. They seemingly knew the signal caller would be imperative to their success moving forward. While there was some contract drama after his rookie contract ran out, he was initially rather pleased with what the team offered. His rookie contract was enough to secure his family’s future, at the very least. Lamar Jackson used his first NFL paycheck to help his family thrive.
How much was Lamar Jackson’s rookie contract worth?
Lamar Jackson, as the last pick of the 2018 NFL draft’s first round, was considered a solid QB option in an already-packed draft class. Jackson signed with the Baltimore Ravens in June 2018 and received a pretty standard deal. The Ravens have never disclosed exactly how much they offered the quarterback. Still, the NFL revealed that Jackson’s first contract was worth around $9.47 million. Jackson also received a $5 million signing bonus and a fifth-year option.
Jackson’s contract was considered largely standard for rookie quarterbacks of his caliber, but how he went into negotiations was anything but. Jackson, unlike other members of his draft class, came to the table without an agent. Jackson had agents interested in working with him. Still, he opted to seek guidance from his mother, Felicia Jones, and a lawyer. The NFL veteran once told the Ravens’ editorial team that he opted out of working with an agent for his original contract because rookies are mostly going to “get the salary they get,” so an agent isn’t actually doing much. He saved the agent fee and put it towards his family’s feature instead.
What did Lamar Jackson buy with his first NFL paycheck?
Lamar Jackson’s contract tension back in 2022 raised questions about his commitment to the Baltimore Ravens; how he spent his first NFL paycheck, however, should put some questions to bed. Jackson has always had a desire to stay close to the team’s home. He even purchased a house for his family in the area. He felt that commitment from day one, too. Lamar Jackson once revealed that the first thing he bought with his NFL paycheck was a house for his family. That home is in Maryland.
According to several sources, Lamar Jackson took $900,000 of his first NFL paycheck and purchased an 8,000-square-foot home in Owings Mills, Maryland. The Baltimore suburb is considered a great place to live. It offers easy access to city amenities while offering a suburban feel. Jackson immediately moved his mother and siblings into the house, situated just 20 minutes from the Ravens’ headquarters. The home has eight bedrooms, a swimming pool, and a host of other amenities.
Jackson, the oldest of four children, has been open about his desire to take care of his family after. He has often spoken of his mother’s tireless efforts to keep them safe and happy despite his father’s sudden death from a heart attack in 2005. The star QB recalled his mother helping him train, including taking part in tackling drills in full pads, while still working to support her family.