The Baltimore Ravens are trying to maximize their championship window in the 2026 and 2027 seasons, and that means trying to turn the team around Lamar Jackson into one that is worthy of competing for a title. As long as Jackson is healthy, Baltimore will at least have a shot.
While the good times are still rolling merrily along heading into 2026, some around the league are worrying if this situation will eventually come to a fiery resolution. Lamar's next contract might be worth as much or more than any one prior to it in NFL history.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler has been saying that executives across the NFL have been eyeing the 2027 offseason as a possible epicenter of some Jackson-centric fireworks. Jackson will have only one year left on his contract, and his contract includes a clause stating that Baltimore can't place the franchise tag on him.
Jackson has famously gotten into some scraps with this front office when it comes to negotiating deals, as he requested a trade before Baltimore backed up the Brinks truck and paid him like the elite quarterback he is. Will history repeat itself again?
Jeremy Fowler wonders how Ravens will handle Lamar Jackson's impending free agency
Jackson, who holds the highest passer rating in NFL history, has been everything the Ravens could have hoped for throughout his first few years after signing that contract, winning an MVP and famously losing another one to Josh Allen despite Jackson making First Team All-Pro over him.
However, the Ravens went 6-7 in games Jackson started last year, and well-regarded offensive coordinator Todd Monken is now head coach of the Cleveland Browns. New head coach Jesse Minter has entrusted Declan Doyle, who is 30 years old and has never called plays, with getting Jackson back to MVP level.
A strong year could force the Ravens to once again make Jackson the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL. With a thin roster around him, the decision to rip off the Band-Aid would put this franchise fully into rebuild mode, where as extending Lamar would mean they should be expected to compete for a championship.
The Ravens would be fools if they did anything but come together with enough money to give Jackson the contract he warrants, especially due to the increased difficulty of finding a franchise quarterback in the NFL. Time will tell how Eric DeCosta approaches this if Jackson thrives under Minter.
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