The Baltimore Ravens will inevitably find themselves between a rock and a hard place in regards to fourth-year defensive tackle Travis Jones. Jones has been stuffing the run and anchoring the middle for the past three seasons since being selected out of UConn with the 76th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
That draft class is nothing short of amazing. For a quick refresher, here are the guys who panned out and have been staples since being drafted: Kyle Hamilton, Tyler Linderbaum, Jones, Daniel Faalele, Charlie Kolar, Jordan Stout, and Isaiah Likely. If it weren't for David Ojabo struggling to find his footing, this might be one of the most impressive draft classes in league history.
Fortunately and unfortunately, expensive contracts typically follow impressive draft classes, and when a team consistently drafts as well as the Ravens... well, it becomes impossibly difficult to pay everyone. The class will be headlined by the extensions of Hamilton and Linderbaum, which will potentially be market-resetting. That puts Baltimore in an unenviable spot with a player like Jones, who has quietly put them in a very tough spot.
The Ravens have a Travis Jones-sized dilemma on their hands
Jones will be wrapping up his four-year, $5.3 million rookie deal at the conclusion of the 2025 season, making him a free agent if nothing changes on the extension front. Daniel Popper of The Athletic has Jones ranked as his 27th overall free agent in a loaded class next year:
"Jones is a difference-maker against the run and moves outrageously well for a 340-pound man. He went toe-to-toe with the Eagles interior in Week 13 and won a bunch of matchups in run defense against Jurgens, Dickerson and Mekhi Becton. The Ravens limited Barkley to 4.7 yards per carry — tied for his fifth-lowest average of the regular season. Jones was a big part of that. He has some pass-rush upside but loses momentum when he faces double-teams. He had 35 pressures last season. If Jones can uptick his pass-rush production, he could be in line for a big contract."
It is here where we arrive at the double-edged sword: Jones makes the leap he's been showing signs of making for a while now, helping the Ravens re-establish their defensive prowess while simultaneously pricing himself out of Baltimore. Again, it's very much an unenviable spot right now.
With Michael Pierce retired and the Ravens retooling up front, 2025 feels like the year Jones either anchors this run defense or leaves a massive void behind. Baltimore’s championship hopes might depend on which version shows up.
If Jones continues on his current trajectory, he’s going to get paid. And if he takes even a small step forward as a pass rusher? That payday might come with a few zeroes the Ravens aren’t ready to write. Right now, he’s tracking for that $10–14 million per year sweet spot that most elite run defenders fall into. But throw in five or six sacks, and a few game-wrecking pressures, and suddenly he’s flirting with the $15–20 million range.
That’s a number Baltimore might not be able to stomach, especially with bigger extensions looming and a roster already teetering the salary cap line.
So here’s the dilemma in plain terms: if Travis Jones becomes the player the Ravens hope he will, there’s a very real chance they can’t keep him. But if he doesn’t, then you’ve got a developmental piece that never quite reached the ceiling.
Either way, Baltimore has a massive call coming—and not much time to figure it out.