AFC Notes: Lamar Jackson, Browns, Ravens, Steelers

Ravens

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson hasn’t had an agent his entire NFL career. Instead, he’s leaned on his mother as his business manager, with potentially other advisors in a tight inner circle. It didn’t hurt him with his rookie deal but the new extension he’s negotiating with Baltimore now is infinitely more complicated.

Other players have negotiated major extensions without official representation but it does add an element of risk for both player and team — with the former running the risk of signing a bad deal and the latter not having the benefit of an agent as a buffer to any hurt feelings that may occur during negotiations. 

“There’s potential for things to go poorly,” CBS analyst and former agent Joel Corry said via the Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec. “I remember years ago, Jerry Jones tried to circumvent the whole agent process. He talked to Dez Bryant directly and he realized he was overmatched in this whole thing.

“It’s a huge advantage to the Ravens. Obviously, you’re trying to get the best deal possible if you’re the Ravens, but you don’t want the perception like, ‘Wow, we took advantage of this guy.’ Some might say if that happens, it’s your own fault because nobody forced you to do the deal by yourself. But I think the public would be on his side and there would be some sympathy for him. The Ravens drive a hard enough bargain as it is.”

Browns QB Baker Mayfield said he is happy he doesn’t have to face DEs Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney on Sundays.

“I wouldn’t say it would be very fun to go up against them,” Mayfield said, via ESPN’s Jake Trotter. “That duo creates a lot of stuff for a lot of other people on the back end. Obviously, we have a lot of guys who are very talented, so it is not just those two, but they do add a special dynamic when it comes down to offensive scheming, that you have to worry about those two guys.”

Steelers

• ESPN’s Brooke Pryor notes there’s a clear mandate this offseason for the Steelers to run the ball and become more balanced — and by extension that means the offense could feature more of first-round RB Najee Harris and less of aging veteran QB Ben Roethlisberger. 
• The Athletic’s Ed Bouchette writes that if Steelers QB Dwayne Haskins shows any modicum of potential, he’ll likely make the team as the third quarterback ahead of veteran journeyman Joshua Dobbs. 
• Bouchette mentions former Steelers G David DeCastro is likely to file a grievance after being released with a non-football injury designation in order to recoup som salary.