I understood your point, my question was what's your max guarantee you'd pay Lamar. Kyler with a much lesser body of work got $160m. Everyone knows Lamar is way better, he's one of 2 players to get an unanimous MVP. So tell me why you wouldn't guarantee $200m and then why realistically that's any different from a fully guaranteed $240m from an organisational risk perspective. I get you like to shit on the Browns but these non guaranteed contracts are unique to the NFL and will eventually be eradicated.
For me, I don't really have an answer.
The Watson deal isn't on the table for me if I'm Steve.
I'm half intrigued to just let Lamar do this year and next year on the tag, and see what happens. Realistically, next year on the tag is a good barometer because a) it'll extremely limit what we can do in FA, due to the huge price tag and b) it'll make it very hard, if not impossible, to do what fans want, which is give some stud, veteran WR somewhere that nobody can name.
And I think its all fair. If Lamar plays under what I assume is the exclusive tag next year, probably looking at a cap hit of at least $40M, and probably closer to $45M. So he'll be taking up at least 20% of the total cap space. If he can win doing that, then I'd open up the check book. If he can't, then that's about as good as its going to get for him on a long term deal. So then, if I'm Steve, I'm just asking "what am I getting for it".
A $50M AAV is what I'd be seeking if I'm Lamar, which means it's a question of years and guarantees. If he wants the most guarantees ever, then you've gotta do like a 7-8 year deal at $350-400M, with like $250M guaranteed. My guess is the Ravens won't do that.
If Lamar actually just wants a fully guaranteed contract, then I'd just go for like a 3 year, $150M, fully guaranteed deal, and call it a day. Maybe go a little lower on the AAV, since most people knows AAV is bullshit anyway. But, of course, the shorter the deal, the less cap flexibility you have.