The Baltimore Ravens can set themselves up with a lot of cap space to play with this offseason. Before Friday, they were expected to have a little over $21 million. However, it was revealed that the 2026 cap number will increase from $279.2 million to around $301.2 to $305.7 million for clubs this offseason.
Of course, that goes for all teams. The free agency market will only become more expensive and more competitive. There are several other ways for General Manager Eric DeCosta and the Baltimore front office to open up more money, though.
The most logical move is a Lamar Jackson extension. The two-time MVP quarterback’s cap hit currently sits at $74.5 million, but a new contract will soften that blow. Still, they’ll be looking to free up every single penny possible.
While there will ultimately be many cuts made to do so, some players taking up a ton of cap are too important to cut ties with. That’s where contract restructures come into play.
A few players have contracts that, if restructured, could free up a great deal of cash. Obviously, it wouldn’t be the smartest choice to make all of these moves, as it could significantly affect future years’ cap space, but if the Ravens want to make a splash move, there are certainly ways to free that money up for the 2026 free agency period.
Looking at the salary numbers on Over the Cap, the Ravens could save over $38 million without cutting a single player.
3 restructures Ravens can make to free up over $38 million in cap space
Marlon Humphrey
Cornerback Marlon Humphrey just had the worst season of his career. He was among the worst in yards allowed, gave up countless big plays, and outside his four interceptions, he was a net negative for Baltimore’s defense.
Humphrey is a four-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro, so of course, he carries a hefty contract. In 2026, his cap number is over $26 million. However, a restructure would free up a little over $13.4 million.
A cut or trade post June 1 would also free up money, but Humphrey is likely too valuable to part with for now. If he has another horrendous season, then some conversations could be had.
Roquan Smith
Linebacker Roquan Smith also had a disappointing year. He played fine, but was far from his former All-Pro first-team self. He felt a tick slow in the middle of the field, and like Humphrey, some of that could be drawn up to injuries. Despite that, he remains a player whose contract needs to be addressed.
With a $32.7 million cap number in 2026, some work needs to be done with his contract. He didn’t play nearly close to that level in 2025. A restructure would open up $9.35 million in cap savings for the Ravens. That feels like an easy decision to make.
Nnamdi Madubuike
Defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike is in a tough situation. He suffered a neck injury in Week 2 that kept him out for the rest of the 2025 season. There have been worries about that injury threatening his career, but he did make a post to his X account on Friday that has people speculating about a possible return to action.
Good news 🙏🏾
— Justin Nnamdi Madubuike (@Madabeeks) January 30, 2026
Madubuike is a star when healthy, but with his future in question, there could be some discussions to be had about his contract. His cap number is a rich $30.975 million in 2026. He certainly deserves that money, but a possible restructure is tempting.
With a restructure of Madubuike’s deal, Baltimore would see over $15.5 million in cap savings. That would offer a ton of flexibility this offseason, and with a ton of pending free agents due for extensions, it’s an opportunity DeCosta should take.