Report details how Ravens' Lamar Jackson changed after contract

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is already a one-time NFL Most Valuable Player but may be better after he signed a five-year contract reportedly worth up to $260M (with $185M guaranteed) this past offseason. 

For a piece published Wednesday, injured Ravens tight end Mark Andrews told Dan Graziano of ESPN that Jackson "has really taken it to another level as a leader this year, which I wouldn't have thought he could do because he was already such a great leader." 

Jackson helped the Ravens get to 8-3 ahead of their upcoming "Sunday Night Football" game at the 4-6 Los Angeles Chargers and is a candidate to earn MVP honors for the second time in his career. ESPN stats show Jackson leads all quarterbacks with 535 rushing yards on the campaign, and he's ninth among qualified players with a 62.0 adjusted QBR. He's sixth with a 100.1 passer rating and has 12 touchdown passes to go along with five scores on the ground. 

"He's evolving," a team source said about Jackson while speaking with Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. "There's a different air about him, with better communication." 

As of early Wednesday afternoon, oddschecker listed Jackson as second among the betting favorites at +420 odds to win the MVP Award. Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles topped the list at +260 odds at that time.

"People with the Ravens...have noticed Jackson's personality coming out more with the new offense," Fowler continued. "He has been more aggressive checking into plays he likes, which helps coaches discover more about him and his preferences." 

Also on Wednesday afternoon, oddschecker had the Ravens as 3.5-point favorites against the Chargers. A victory in prime time would put Jackson and Baltimore one step closer to possibly earning the AFC's No. 1 playoff seed.