It seems like people are always speculating about Lamar Jackson's future with the Baltimore Ravens. With Lamar currently slated for an $84.3 million cap hit for the 2027 season, the Ravens need to restructure his contract to both cut down this cap hit and keep him in Baltimore long-term.Â
These negotiations take time, and ideally, the Ravens can work something out with him before the start of the season. However, that doesn't mean his future is in jeopardy. Thankfully, when speaking to the media during OTAs, Lamar delivered a message that should delight Ravens fans regarding his future.Â
"Absolutely. I love the Ravens. I love this organization. I love this city. This is the team that drafted me...I love Baltimore. Everybody should know that by now," Jackson said when he was asked if he wants to stay in Baltimore long-term.Â
Jackson's comments should be music to fans' ears, and they should limit the speculation about his future.
Lamar Jackson's comments are good news amid the need for a new deal
Yes, Jackson needs a new deal, and nailing the details of this contract might take time, but that doesn't mean a divorce is likely in any way.Â
Furthermore, despite the Ravens not reaching their Super Bowl aspirations under Jackson (yet), it's been a highly successful era, resulting in two MVPs and three 12-plus win seasons. Even though Lamar is approaching his 30s and does admittedly have a track record of injuries, when you have a quarterback as talented as he is, you keep him.
Simply put, there's no reason to believe that Lamar is unhappy in Baltimore or that the franchise would benefit from parting ways with him.
The main counter-argument would be that Lamar's contract negotiations in 2023 got messy. Regardless, these long and difficult negotiations ultimately resulted in a record-breaking contract. Moreover, it's fair to have hoped that this new deal would have already been worked out by now. At the end of the day, though, these things take time, and people shouldn't jump to conclusions.Â
It's also essential to note that Lamar and the Ravens already reworked his contract this offseason, lessening his cap hit for the 2026 season by nearly $40 million. While the 2027 cap hit still looms over the team, his previously reworked deal shows that Jackson is a team player who wants to stay in Baltimore.
The Ravens overhauled their coaching staff this offseason, and Lamar was involved in that process. Does that in any way seem like there's a damaged relationship between him and the front office?Â
Without a doubt, Jesse Minter and Declan Doyle are set to maximize Jackson. Minter has emphasized that he's the best quarterback in the league, and Doyle's system, which focuses on explosive plays, will benefit Jackson.Â
Ravens fans will be eagerly waiting for Lamar and the team to figure out a new contract, but they should feel pretty confident that he has a long-term future in Baltimore, especially after these comments.
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