While the NFL Combine is an opportunity for prospects to boost their value and meet with teams, it’s also a chance to get a peek behind the curtain for teams’ offseason objectives. The Baltimore Ravens, a typically quiet organization, may have revealed some of their plans for the coming months.
Last year was a disappointment from top to bottom, and with 2025 fresh in Baltimore’s memory, it’d be no surprise if they are especially aggressive this offseason. They won't have a ton of cap space, but with quarterback Lamar Jackson’s next contract in the works, they should have a decent amount. There are also opportunities to restructure other deals and make cuts to free up more money.
At this point, it doesn’t sound like restructures will be made for cornerback Marlon Humphrey and linebacker Roquan Smith. General manager Eric DeCosta noted on Tuesday that there hasn’t been much discussion to rework those deals.
DeCosta said he hasn’t spoken to Roquan Smith about a contract alteration.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) February 24, 2026
DeCosta said he expects Marlon Humphrey to be a Raven this year and he doesn’t “necessarily” need a contract adjustment.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) February 24, 2026
“I love Marlon.”
There was maybe some sort of expectation, at least from part of the fanbase, that one or both of Humphrey and Smith would be restructured. That doesn’t seem to be the case…at least that’s what DeCosta says.
Eric DeCosta makes his stance on Smith’s and Humphrey’s contracts known
Of course, there’s always a chance that DeCosta is keeping inside information close to heart. You never want to give your competitors a leg up on you, especially when you need major improvements. It’s all a part of the offseason process. Ultimately, though, it's probably in Baltimore's best interest to resist restructuring.
Obviously, it would benefit their cap space in 2026. For Roquan Smith, a restructure would save $9.35 million, and for Marlon Humphrey, such a move would save just over $13.4 million. That money sounds great and all, but it’ll only push the issue down the road.
If the front office were to make those financial decisions, it would create an even larger cap hit in 2027. Smith’s cap hit in that year currently sits at $32.7 million, and Humphrey’s 2027 void year amount is close to $12 million. Restructures would raise each of those cap hits significantly.
With Smith’s deal ending after the 2027 season, and Humphrey already having money tacked on in void years, there’s no clean way to avoid pushing an overwhelming amount of money into the future. Sure, it’d free up the opportunity to make big-time moves in free agency this year, but they’d also back themselves into an inescapable corner in 2027. It’s likely best to bite the bullet and eat the cap hit.
There have been rumblings from some fans who think cutting one or both of the veterans is the move. That’d likely be the wrong move, though. In both cases, cuts would only really save money with a post-June 1 designation; Smith would save $20 million in cap savings and create $12.7 million in dead cap, and Humphrey would save $19.2 million in cap savings and create $7 million in dead cap. Is that worth it? Probably not.
Smith and Humphrey had more than their fair share of struggles last year, but that could mostly be correlated to former defensive coordinator Zach Orr’s questionable scheme and an atrocious pass rush. The two former All-Pros should have plenty of talent left in the tank. After the Ravens hired head coach Jesse Minter and defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, they should be put in a better situation to showcase that.
As free agency draws closer, the best way to free up money is by shrinking Lamar Jackson’s $74.5 million cap hit with an extension. It sounds like Eric DeCosta is on his way to doing just that.