Trenton Simpson is breaking out in 2026. In a season with inconsistency on defense, Simpson is a name Jesse Minter can rely on. Since Week 1, he’s been one of the best players on defense.
This breakout comes in Year 4. Simpson’s athleticism and versatility have made him a fascinating defensive piece since he was drafted, and it seems Minter finally unlocked him.
Simpson is playing himself into a lucrative contract. He’s in the final year of his rookie deal; if the Ravens want to keep him around, they’ll have to fork up some money.
StickToTheModel projects him to sign a four-year, $55 million contract. That’d rank fifth in the NFL on total value for linebackers, and just outside the top-10 at $13.9 million per year.
Given Baltimore’s cap situation, that’s bound to bring up some tough conversations.
Baltimore Ravens need to extend Trenton Simpson
It’s obvious. The Ravens must keep Trenton Simpson around. He’s the kind of playmaker who flies to the football. He’s shown tremendous run-stopping instincts, can rush the passer, and force turnovers. The 25-year-old is third on the team in tackles with 47 and has a sack, interception, and fumble recovery.
In seven games, Simpson has registered a 79.6 overall grade, per Pro Football Focus, which is fourth among qualifying linebackers. Most impressively, his play against the pass and run has blossomed, earning a 79.9 coverage grade and 77.4 run-defense grade. Both of those grades are top-10 at his position.
Watching Simpson this year is truly a spectacle. He was once a player who was constantly out of place against the run and failed to hold his own in coverage. Now, he’s playing with fire. His anticipation, eyes, and awareness have taken off.
He’s doing this all in his first year under Jesse Minter, too. It’s clear this guy is a building block for the future. The question shouldn’t be ‘Should Baltimore extend Simpson? ’ it needs to be ‘How will Baltimore make the money work to retain him?’
Ravens will have their cap work cut out for them if they retain Trenton Simpson
It’s no secret that the Ravens are struggling for cap space. They currently have about $1.9 million available, and in 2027 they’re over $45.9 million in the red.
Obviously, the biggest issue right now is Lamar Jackson’s contract. He has to be extended next offseason. The team reworked his deal in March, and while that made sense for 2026, his 2027 cap hit spiked to a crushing $84.34 million.
You can’t build a roster with that looming over your head. The Ravens have to figure out a new deal with Jackson next year and reset that number.
Unfortunately, it doesn't stop there. Sure, an eventual Jackson extension will likely free up enough space to retain Trenton Simpson. Other contracts will need to be navigated, though.
Specifically, we’re looking at Roquan Smith’s. If Baltimore wants to extend Simpson in the range of a four-year, $55 million contract, they’d be paying two of the five most expensive linebacker contracts in the NFL.
Is that smart business? Probably not, given how linebacker is considered one of the least valuable positions on defense. However, Simpson is becoming a dominant threat, and you can’t lose him.
The issue arises with Smith’s five-year, $100 million deal. He definitely deserved it at the time, but that’s when he was undoubtedly a top-two linebacker in the sport. He’s regressed over the last two years and doesn’t look worth that money anymore.
Between this year and next, Smith’s cap hit sits at $32.7 million.
That’s probably manageable if the Ravens backload a Simpson extension. They did that with Zay Flowers and Trey Hendrickson, and it’d make sense to do the same with Simpson.
However, Baltimore could also cut ties with Smith next year if they wanted to. Cutting the veteran in 2027 would save $20 million and incur $12.7 million in dead money. That’d create extra flexibility while allowing Minter to go full swing into the encouraging youth movement at linebacker, with Simpson and Teddye Buchanan leading the way.
Whatever the direction the Ravens go, it has to involve a Simpson extension. He’s on a dramatic upward trend, while Smith is going downward. You must retain the future.
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