Lamar Jackson will remain with the Baltimore Ravens after all.

After months of negotiating and public posturing, the Ravens and Jackson agreed to a five-year contract extension on Thursday.

The Ravens' official Twitter account confirmed the news by posting a video of the 2019 NFL MVP celebrating the next five years in Baltimore.

Jackson's new deal makes him the highest-paid player in the league with a total contract value of $260million, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, reportedly including $185m in guarantees.

Announced just hours before the start of the 2023 NFL Draft, the contract ends a months-long negotiation process that at times was portrayed as tense and adversarial.

While the details of the contract have not been publicly confirmed, both sides reportedly used Jalen Hurts' new deal with the Philadelphia Eagles as a starting point.

After leading the Eagles to a Super Bowl appearance, Hurts received a five-year extension worth up to $255m, with $179m in guaranteed money.

Jackson had reportedly been seeking a fully guaranteed contract – a demand that had, until this week, caused an impasse in negotiations.

On March 7, Baltimore placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback, allowing other teams an opportunity to sign Jackson to an offer sheet in exchange for two first-round draft picks.

Three weeks later, Jackson announced on Twitter he had requested a trade earlier this offseason.

Jackson is 45-16 as a starter in the regular season and was voted the 2019 MVP after leading the league with 36 touchdown passes and rushing for a quarterback-record 1,206 yards.

In 70 career games, Jackson has completed 63.7 per cent of his passes for 12,209 yards, 101 touchdowns and 38 interceptions. He has added 4,437 rushing yards and 24 scores on the ground.

Aaron Rodgers hinted his stay with the New York Jets could stretch beyond the 2023 season as he targeted glory at his unveiling, saying: "That Super Bowl III trophy is looking a little lonely".

Rodgers ended a near-two-decade stint with the Green Bay Packers earlier this week, with the Jets trading four draft picks to land the four-time NFL MVP.

During the offseason, Rodgers hinted his future could lay outside the league, saying retirement was "100 per cent" an option back in February.

However, speaking at a press conference to mark his arrival in New York, Rodgers suggested he could represent the franchise for more than one season.

"They definitely gave up some picks for me to be here, so this isn't like one and done, in my mind," he said.

Asked if he was simply determined to enjoy the present, rather than look to the future, Rodgers added: "If that rubs some people the wrong way, so be it. 

"I want to be all in. I want my 'yes' to be a full 'F yes'."

The Jets' 1969 triumph at Super Bowl III remains the only occasion on which they have won it all, with Rodgers looking to help the team end a miserable 12-year stint without a postseason run.

"I love daydreaming and night dreaming, too – it's fun to take your mind to that spot," he said.

"That's why I'm here. I'm not here to be a stopgap to have a mediocre season. We want to win the whole thing. That Super Bowl III trophy is looking a little lonely."

The Washington Commanders will not exercise the fifth-year option on defensive end Chase Young’s rookie contract following a second straight injury-plagued season, according to The Washington Post.

Young, the 2020 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, has been slow to recover from a serious right knee injury he suffered in November 2021 that sidelined him over a year.

The former second overall pick returned for the final three games of last season but did not record a sack.

The 24-year-old will now be an unrestricted free agent after the 2023 season. Young would have earned around $17.5million in 2024 had the option been picked up.

A healthy Young put together a strong rookie campaign in which he registered 7.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in 15 games and was selected to the Pro Bowl.

The former Ohio State All-American had 21 tackles, 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles through nine games in 2021 before tearing the anterior cruciate ligament and the patella tendon in his right knee in a Week 10 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Commanders coach Ron Rivera acknowledged earlier this month that Young’s medical history would factor heavily in the team’s decision whether to exercise the option.

"That's the thing that will drive a big part of the conversation," Rivera said. "As we continue to work through this and talk about it, it will be about seeing him and watching him.

"We'll continue to work through these things – talk to the doctors, talk to the trainers, strength and medical – and just kind of get a feel for where he is. Then we'll be able to make a decision and we’ll go from there."

Aaron Rodgers paid an emotional tribute to the Green Bay Packers following confirmation of his trade to the New York Jets.

The four-time NFL MVP will end a near-two-decade stay in Wisconsin with a move to MetLife Stadium for the 2023 season.

Rodgers, who led the Packers to Super Bowl XLV, has spent his entire professional career to date in Green Bay, where he has played for 18 years.

Ahead of his departure though, the veteran quarterback took to Instagram on Tuesday to thank the team, his fellow players, coaches and supporters for his time at Lambeau Field.

"I'm not sure [if] it's possible to fully express the gratitude that I have to the Packers, our incredible fans, the state of Wisconsin [and] the thousands of players that I crossed paths with," he wrote.

"I grew up in Green Bay, [was] drafted at 21, fell in love with the game, met some lifelong friends, and take with me memories that will last a lifetime.

"To the fans, thank you. You made every run out of the tunnel special, every home game magical, and it was my honour to be your QB.

"To my teammates, I love you all, and am thankful for the moments on and off the field that brought us close. I played with legends, I played with friends. Thanks for believing in me and having my back always.

"This is not the end for us. I will see you again Green Bay. You’ll always have my heart."

The Packers are expected to get four draft picks in return for Rodgers' departure, with the quarterback having pushed for his move to the Jets after a fractious few seasons.

Aaron Rodgers will be traded to the New York Jets after they agreed a deal with the Green Bay Packers to acquire the four-time MVP quarterback.

Rodgers confirmed last month that he wished to be traded by the Packers to the Jets.

The two sides had struggled to find an agreement in trade talks but reportedly resumed negotiations over the weekend.

Those discussions have netted the desired result, according to multiple reports, with the Jets sending four draft picks to Green Bay to land Rodgers.

Green Bay, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, will receive the 13th overall pick in this year's draft, which starts on Thursday, along with the Jets' second-round pick (No. 42) and a sixth-round pick, as well as a conditional second-round pick in the 2024 draft.

That second-rounder will become a first if Rodgers plays 65 per cent of the offensive snaps in 2023.

In return, the Jets get the Packers' first-rounder this year (No. 15), as well as their fifth-rounder.

The deal ends a saga that has been rumbling since the opening night of the draft in 2021, when reports of Rodgers' dissatisfaction with the Packers first emerged.

Rodgers did eventually report to play in the 2021 season and duly captured a second successive and fourth MVP, though the Packers lost at home in the playoffs to the San Francisco 49ers.

The Packers responded to a dismal offensive showing in that 13-10 loss by signing Rodgers to a three-year, $150million extension, a move that appeared increasingly questionable as Green Bay slumped to an 8-9 season, missing the playoffs.

Rodgers endured one of the worst seasons of his career, failing to throw for 4,000 yards in a season in which he played double-digit games for the first time since 2015. He threw 26 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, his highest tally since his first season as a starter in 2008.

Yet, with his relationship with the Packers broken beyond repair, the Jets are backing Rodgers to rediscover his old magic, having seen their playoff hopes in 2022 derailed by poor quarterback play, their decision to select Zach Wilson second overall in 2021 backfiring spectacularly.

With an extremely talented roster on both sides of the ball, the Jets could arguably become Super Bowl contenders if Rodgers excels, and will be one of the dominant stories of the 2023 season.

Rodgers bids farewell to Green Bay having delivered just one Super Bowl title, which came back in the 2010 season. The Packers, meanwhile, will turn to Jordan Love, the man the Packers selected in the first round of the 2020 draft, drawing Rodgers' ire.

Love will not have the pressure of Super Bowl expectations on his shoulders but, after some promising flashes in limited action last season, Green Bay will look for him to become the next great Packer quarterback having experienced three decades of stellar play at the position between Rodgers and his predecessor Brett Favre, who also left for the Jets in 2008.

Jalen Hurts' record-breaking Philadelphia Eagles contract extension left him with "mixed emotions", with the quarterback declaring: "Money is nice, championships are better".

The Eagles announced Hurts agreed a five-year extension through the 2028 season last week, after he led the team to Super Bowl LVII in his second full season as a starter.

Hurts' deal makes him the highest-paid player in NFL history, with the extension reportedly worth $255million with $179m in guaranteed money.

However, after failing to get Philadelphia over the line against the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl, Hurts is focused on building a legacy, rather than counting his cash.

"Money is nice, championships are better," Hurts said at a press conference called to mark his extension on Monday.

"I have mixed emotions right now. I am grateful, I am thankful, but I am just so hungry. The hard work continues, and the fire continues to burn.

"I've just been on this constant quest of trying to be the best player I can be with no limits, trying to be the best version of myself, the best player, leader and man I can be. That will never change."

Hurts led the Eagles to a 14-3 record last season, passing for 3,701 yards with 22 touchdowns and six interceptions for a 101.5 QB rating in 15 regular-season games.

Given his young age, Philadelphia chief executive Jeffrey Lurie believes the franchise can expect much more from Hurts in the coming years.

"Franchises go through special moments, and this is one for the Philadelphia Eagles," Lurie said. 

"It's crucial, no matter what, that you can find your quarterback for the present and the future, and to have that person be as sterling a character and as passionate about his craft and as dedicated as this young 24-year-old is... is remarkable."

C.J. Moore and Quintez Cephus have been released by the Detroit Lions after the duo and three other NFL players were suspended by the league for gambling violations.

Safety Moore and wide receiver Cephus' releases came after being suspended indefinitely by the NFL, while their now former Lions team-mates Stanley Berryhill and Jameson Williams were handed six-game bans.

Washington Commanders defensive end Shaka Toney was the other player cited by the league, also earning an indefinite suspension.

A statement from the NFL on Friday said: "The NFL confirmed today that three players have been indefinitely suspended for violating the league's gambling policy. Two other players were each suspended six games.

"Quintez Cephus and C.J. Moore of the Detroit Lions and Shaka Toney of the Washington Commanders are suspended indefinitely through at least the conclusion of the 2023 season for betting on NFL games in the 2022 season. These players may petition for reinstatement at the conclusion of the 2023 season.

"Stanley Berryhill and Jameson Williams of the Lions are suspended for the team's first six regular season games of the 2023 season. These players are eligible to participate in all offseason and preseason activities, including preseason games. The suspensions will take effect at the final roster cutdown.

"The gambling policy, which is annually reviewed with all NFL personnel, including players, prohibits anyone in the NFL from engaging in any form of gambling in any club or league facility or venue, including the practice facility.

"A league review uncovered no evidence indicating any inside information was used or that any game was compromised in any way."

Shortly after the announcement from the league, the Lions confirmed they had released Moore and Cephus, who played 11 and four games respectively in the 2022 season.

"As a result of an NFL investigation, it came to our attention that a few of our players had violated the league's gambling policy," Lions executive vice president and general manager Brad Holmes said.

"These players exhibited decision-making that is not consistent with our organisational values and violates league rules. We have made the decision to part ways with Quintez and C.J. immediately.

"We are disappointed by the decision-making demonstrated by Stanley and Jameson and will work with both players to ensure they understand the severity of these violations and have clarity on the league rules moving forward."

The Miami Dolphins still view Tua Tagovailoa as their long-term answer at quarterback, though the former first-round pick admitted that he seriously contemplated retirement after only three NFL seasons.

Speaking on Wednesday at the Dolphin's pre-draft press conference, Tagovailoa revealed the two known concussions he sustained during the 2022 season had him thinking of walking away from the game at age 25.

Tagovailoa said his love of football ultimately led to his decision to continue playing, as did his desire for the opportunity of having his young son watch him play when he gets older.

"I think I considered it for a time," he admitted. "Having sat down with my family, having sat down with my wife and having those kinds of conversations," he stated.

"I always dreamed of playing as long as I could to where my son knew exactly [what he did] and [would be] watching his dad do.

"It's my health, it's my body. I feel like this is what's best for me and my family. I love the game of football. If I didn't, I would have quit a long time ago."

Two separate head injuries caused Tagovailoa to miss five games in 2022 in addition to raising questions about his future.

The most concerning one occurred in a nationally televised game against the Cincinnati Bengals in September, when the former University of Alabama star was knocked out on a sack and removed from the field on a stretcher before being transported to a local hospital.

That scary incident took place five days after Tagovailoa temporarily exited a game against the Buffalo Bills after displaying possible concussion symptoms, though he was later cleared to return and the Dolphins announced he had a back injury.

An NFL investigation into the Dolphins’ handling of that situation resulted in the firing of the independent doctor who examined Tagovailoa, and the league later revised its concussion protocol policy following his injury against Cincinnati.

Tagovailoa suffered another concussion against Green Bay in Week 16, causing him to miss Miami’s final two regular-season games as well as its loss to the Bills in the first round of the AFC playoffs.

The quarterback has since been fully cleared, and told reporters Wednesday that he believes his enrollment in a jujitsu programme this offseason can help him stay healthy and on the field in 2023.

"I learned how to fall, some grappling techniques, and some other things that I don’t want to disclose," he said. "For the most part, learning how to fall.

"You think it's easy, 'just don't fall and hit your head,' but there's a lot more to it."

Former NFL defensive lineman Chris Smith has died aged 31.

Smith was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars out of Arkansas in the 2014 draft and spent eight years in the league, representing teams such as the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns.

He last played in the NFL for the Houston Texans in 2021 before signing for the Seattle Sea Dragons in the XFL in March of this year.

Smith's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, confirmed his death on Twitter, saying: "Rest in Peace Chris. Condolences to all his family, friends and loved ones. We will miss you."

Smith's cause of death has not been released.

Several former teammates paid tribute, with Browns tight-end David Njoku declaring on Twitter: "Rest in paradise Chris Smith.

"Hometown hero and a brother to everyone. Such a kind soul. This is heartbreaking."

Smith also played for the Las Vegas Raiders and their former quarterback Derek Carr posted a photo of the two together and wrote: "Love you bro."

Allen Robinson is on the move again, reportedly being traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers from the Los Angeles Rams.

The 29-year-old wide receiver is travelling to Pittsburgh on Tuesday for a physical, according to reports, and the trade will be completed if he passes.

There is no word on what the Rams are getting in return.

Robinson requested a trade out of Los Angeles last month and a move to Pittsburgh would mark a third team in as many seasons for the former Pro Bowler.

Robinson signed a three-year, $46.5million contract with the Rams in March 2022, but he added little to the offense, finishing with 33 catches for 339 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games last season as Los Angeles endured a dismal defence of their Super Bowl title.

He spent the previous four years with the Chicago Bears after playing his first four professional seasons for the Jacksonville Jaguars, who selected him in the second round of the 2014 draft.

A nine-year veteran, Robinson has three 1,000-yard receiving seasons – most recently with the Bears in 2020, when he had a career-high 102 receptions for 1,250 yards and six touchdowns.

In the two seasons since then, however, he’s caught just 71 passes for 749 yards and four TDs in 22 games.

His most receiving yards came during his Pro Bowl season of 2015, when his 1,400 receiving yards ranked sixth in the league.

Damar Hamlin has been fully cleared to resume all football activities.

Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane confirmed on Tuesday that safety Hamlin was working out at their facility after receiving clearance from three doctors. 

Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest in the Bills' game with the Cincinnati Bengals in January, collapsing on the field in the first quarter of the Week 17 encounter.

He received CPR and automated external defibrillation on the field, with his heart successfully restarted.

Hamlin has subsequently made a remarkable recovery, and after saying on a visit to the White House to meet US president Joe Biden he planned to play football again, he has now been permitted to do so.

"They're all in agreement [the specialists]. It's not two to one or anything like that; they're all in lockstep of what this was and that he is cleared to resume full activities just like anyone else who was coming back from an injury or whatever, so he's fully cleared," Beane said at his pre-draft press conference. 

"He’s here, and he’s in a great headspace to come back and make his return.

"Damar is preparing to play."

Super Bowl-winning quarterback Patrick Mahomes revealed he is still rehabbing the high ankle sprain that he battled through during last season's playoffs.

Mahomes led the Kansas City Chiefs to the Super Bowl LVII title with an MVP display in their 38-35 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on February 12.

The Chiefs QB dealt with the ankle issue throughout the postseason after sustaining the injury in their divisional round playoff win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Mahomes said he is back throwing to receivers and running backs but still working through the issue as the Chiefs commenced their offseason program on Monday.

"It's been more about just kind of managing it, getting the mobility back as best as I possibly can," Mahomes told reporters.

"I wouldn't say I'm 100 per cent. ... It's just when you go through a grind of a week of training and you're trying to push it and go through the rehab process.

"But at the same time you want to make sure you're still building, you might be a little sore on the weekends. But I think we've done a great job of pushing it to the right limit to where now I'm throwing.

"There will still be a little bit of limitations going the next few weeks, but I'm going to be happy with where I'm at and we'll keep pushing it and getting me to the right spot before the beginning of the season."

Mahomes did not require surgery on the high ankle sprain, which was different to a toe/foot injury two years ago that impacted his start to the corresponding season.

"The foot, with having the surgery and having that cast on it, it just really cut my mobility down a lot and so I had to really work through that even into the season that next year," Mahomes said.

"With the ankle, I've felt like we've improved, especially these last few weeks, a ton as far as the swelling. That went down finally. I don't have that soreness just as much as I was having it after a few days of work.

"With the improvements that we're making these last few weeks, I have a great feeling that by the time we get to training camp, it wouldn't even be any question at all. We'll continue to work through it.

"By OTAs [starting in May], I don't think there'll be any limitations on reps or anything like that, especially if I'm not running around a ton.

"But at the same time, we'll continue the rehab process and making sure by the time we get to training camp, I can just roll out there and feel perfectly fine."

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is itching to get into the 2023 season after an injury-riddled campaign as reigning Super Bowl champion.

After winning it all in Super Bowl LVI, Stafford went into his offseason program dealing with a lingering elbow issue that would not allow him to throw. He ended up being held out from throwing altogether in the offseason program and was still limited during training camp.

Stafford's spotty preparation led to one of the worst statistical seasons of his career. In his nine starts before a season-ending spinal cord contusion, Stafford led the Rams to a 3-6 record with 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

His 10 touchdowns were the fewest in any of his 13 seasons where he has made at least eight starts, while his 10.1 yards per completion was also a career low, and his 231.9 yards per game were the fewest since his rookie year back in 2009.

After two concussions and his spinal cord injury, while also playing on a Rams team seemingly trending in the wrong direction looking forward, there was plenty of speculation if Stafford would play on in 2023, but he told reporters on Monday that he is raring to go.

"I'm not 25, but I definitely feel good," Stafford said after turning 35 in February. "It's fun to be as refreshed as I am coming back into this building.

"I'm in a good head space as far as how I'm feeling [and] what I'm able to accomplish while I'm here, and that puts me in a good mood.

"It gets me excited to be here and kind of helps me make sure that my attitude, my energy level, is at the correct place every single time I come in here – and I feel like it's there right now."

While admitting he is not able to throw every day with reckless abandon like he once could, Stafford said he is "ready to go [and] ready to play".

"It's kind of nice that I'll be able to go out there and have a much more normal offseason experience and be able to be out there and do what I love to do," he said.

"I'm probably not a human Jugs machine like I used to be, [but I] can still get it out there and throw it around a bunch.

"So, it'll be a process as it always is to try and stay as healthy as you possibly can at all times. But I definitely feel like I can go out there and compete and do everything I want to do, which is fun and exciting for me."

Jalen Hurts has been rewarded with a massive, record-breaking contract extension two months after leading the Philadelphia Eagles to the Super Bowl.

The Eagles announced on Monday that Hurts has agreed to a five-year extension through the 2028 season.

No financial terms were given, but it is reportedly for $255million with $179m in guaranteed money, including $110m fully guaranteed at signing.

The deal, which includes a no-trade clause, makes the 24-year-old Hurts the highest-paid player in NFL history.

A second-round pick by the Eagles in the 2020 draft, Hurts is coming off his second full season as their starting quarterback, helping lead the franchise to a 14-3 record and an appearance in the Super Bowl.

Although Philadelphia suffered a 38-35 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Hurts played well, completing 71.1 per cent of his 38 attempts for 304 yards with a touchdown for a 103.4 passer rating.

This came after he passed for 3,701 yards with 22 touchdowns and six interceptions for a 101.5 QB rating in 15 regular-season games to earn his first Pro Bowl selection.

The dual-threat quarterback is also one of the league's best at making plays with his legs, as he scored 13 touchdowns on the ground this past season – the second-most rushing TDs by a QB in a single season in NFL history.

With 760 rushing yards in 2022, he joined the Buffalo Bills' Josh Allen and the Arizona Cardinals' Kyler Murray as the only quarterbacks in NFL history with at least 3,500 passing yards and 750 rushing yards in a single season.

Veteran wide receiver Robbie Anderson has agreed a contract with the Miami Dolphins.

The 29-year-old, who was released by the Arizona Cardinals last month following a mid-season trade arrival, is heading to Florida for the 2023 campaign.

Anderson – who recently changed his legal name to Chosen Robbie Anderson – posted a video to his Instagram story on Saturday to confirm his new team.

In the clip, he is seen holding up the jersey of Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who he will link up with as part of a wide receiver pool topped by Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.

Originally undrafted out of Temple in 2016, Anderson signed with the New York Jets and enjoyed a four-year spell with the franchise as a near ever-present.

He moved to the Carolina Panthers in 2020 and posted a career-best season with 95 caught passes for 1,096 yards and three touchdowns.

A mid-season trade to the Cardinals last term failed to pan out however, with Anderson taking just seven passes for 76 yards during his brief stay.

The Dolphins posted a 9-8 regular season record in 2022 before a 34-31 loss in the AFC Wild Card round to the Buffalo Bills ended their campaign.