The Baltimore Ravens' 2025 season did not start with many positives on defense. They currently rank 26th in yards allowed per game and 23rd in points per game. However, a year after finding their footing midway through the season, they seem to have turned their defensive woes around once again.
Despite the sluggish start, the stars and building blocks have started to shine bright at the perfect moment in Baltimore. This past offseason, they extended their best defensive player in Kyle Hamilton. The defense has young players capable of bridging the gap from their current roster to the next iteration of a great Ravens defense.
Enter Travis Jones.
Ravens face important contract decision with Travis Jones
Travis Jones' Contract Projection
Jones, a former third-round pick, is set to become a free agent at the conclusion of this year. He doesn't have the gaudy counting stats that have driven high pay days for other interior defensive linemen in recent memory. But Jones is a space-eater with some ability to condense the pocket, so he doesn't have to come off the field in late-down situations.
His 23 pressures are tied for the 23rd most among interior defensive linemen this year. And his 15 defensive stops are tied for 28th. He isn't elite in either area, but being top 30 in both shows he is a solid all-around player. And in a free agency market that looks to be down overall, that poises him to be one of the premier free agents in the 2026 class.
Jones will be benchmarked against other nose tackles who have signed recent deals. Jones doesn't have the pass-rush productivity of complete nose tackles like DeForest Buckner, Vita Vea, and Dexter Lawrence.
Looking for his best production comps, there are three names that stick out. Stylistically, these players may not match well with Jones as a big man with some push, but teams pay more for production than style.
*Note these production numbers assumes an even extrapolation of his 2025 statistics and uses Pro Football Focus' statistical accounting.
Over a three-year time horizon, DaVon Hamilton's 2023 deal sticks out.
Player | Age | Draft Round | Games | Total Snaps | Batted Passes | Forced Fumbles | QB Hits | Sacks | Defensive Stops | Tackles | TFL's | Pressures | Pressure Rate | Pass Rush Snaps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Travis Jones (2023-2025) | 26.9 | 3 | 48 | 1711 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 67 | 76 | 10 | 91 | 8.33% | 1094 |
DaVon Hamilton (2020-2022) | 26.6 | 3 | 44 | 1461 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 62 | 86 | 5 | 48 | 7.00% | 686 |
Jones has the edge on Hamilton in playtime and as a pass rusher, so he should clear Hamilton's 5.12% APY as a percent of cap in the year of signing. With a 2026 salary cap of $300 million, that would put Jones' next deal at over $15 million.
Looking at a more recent timeline comp, we can compare Jones' 2025 pace with Grover Stewart's 2019 performance leading into his $10.25 million APY deal in 2020.
Player | Age | Draft Round | Games | Total Snaps | Batted Passes | Forced Fumbles | QB Hits | Sacks | Defensive Stops | Tackles | TFL's | Pressures | Pressure Rate | Pass Rush Snaps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Travis Jones (2025) | 26.9 | 3 | 15 | 660 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 26 | 24 | 5 | 39 | 9.39% | 417 |
Grover Stewart (2019) | 26.9 | 4 | 16 | 627 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 18 | 2 | 22 | 6.43% | 342 |
Jones outperforms Stewart across the board here. This should embolden his representation to look for a cap-adjusted deal that will outpace Stewart's contract. This supports his APY exceeding $15 million once again.
Given his current trajectory, ability to hold up as a run stopper on early downs and a plus contributor on passing downs, I have Jones' current contract projection at three years and $48 million. Only 16 players outpaced that APY in last year's free agent market. And this year's crop does not look to be any better. Which means Jones is on the precipice of being one of the most coveted free agents in the NFL, with leverage to get the most out of the Ravens if he wants to stay in Baltimore.
Can Baltimore Afford To Lose Jones?
Jones is one of several free agents the team will have to make decisions on, including several on the defensive side of the ball. Dre'Mont Jones, Alohi Gilman, and Kyle Van Noy, in addition to a few others, have all played key snaps for the team this season. But given age, importance of position and ability to set others up through his role and his play, Jones should be towards the top of that list.
$15 million per year may seem like a lot of money for a nose tackle who is good but not great at getting after the quarterback, but the alternative options on the market aren't any better. And with Nnamdi Madubuike's future up in the air, it would make sense for the Ravens to invest in a young and improving piece of their defensive front.