The Baltimore Ravens haven’t had to worry about the quarterback position in a long time. And that’s thanks to Lamar Jackson. Since taking over the job in 2018, the two-time MVP has not only changed the way Baltimore plays football but he’s redefined the quarterback position entirely.
He’s the reason why the Ravens are perennially in the Super Bowl conversation. He’s the reason they’re relevant on primetime slots every week. And if we’re being honest, he’s the reason this team has a shot at hoisting a Lombardi every single year. What Jackson does on a football field isn’t normal. It’s literally historic.
Costly errors and abnormal play have cost him some Super Bowl runs, but his biggest hurdle will soon be something he will have no say over: The salary cap. And that’s what brings us to where we are now — just weeks away from the NFL Draft and knee-deep in cap gymnastics, the Ravens have a Lamar-sized contract elephant looming in the middle of the room.
John Harbaugh says Lamar Jackson will be the highest-paid player in football… again
At the league meetings in Florida this week, John Harbaugh was asked where things stand with Jackson and the possibility of a new contract extension. He didn’t dodge the question:
“The value is the top,” Harbaugh said. “When Lamar gets paid, he’s going to be the highest-paid player in football, just like he was last time. I think every contract he signs till he decides to hang up his cleats, he’s going to be that guy.”
That might sound like a throwaway line, but it’s not. Harbaugh straight-up saying Lamar will be the highest-paid player in football again is coming. And he's earned it. It tells you how the organization views him and what direction they're going to move in. When it's time to put pen to paper, they’re going to shell out however much they need to, to give Jackson the title of highest paid.
That doesn't come without its challenges. Jackson is due a cap hit of $74.65 million in 2026. Even for a quarterback like Lamar, that number’s unsustainable. Something’s gotta give.
And according to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, Baltimore knows that.
“Baltimore would probably want a new deal in place with Jackson over the next 11 months in order to free up cap room before free agency next year. It took 27 months of challenging negotiations for the team to get Jackson’s last contract completed.”
This time, they probably don’t want it dragging that long. Because unlike last time, the Ravens now have other major extensions looming—Kyle Hamilton and Tyler Linderbaum being the biggest two. Add Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, and Odafe Oweh and this situation could blow up in their faces fast. You can’t pay everybody unless you rework your biggest deals, and Jackson is the biggest deal.
It doesn’t sound like anything is imminent, but Harbaugh’s comments speak volumes. The Ravens want Jackson here, long-term, and they know it’s going to cost more than ever. So be it. That's the price you pay for the most electric player who ever played football.
If Jackson keeps playing like the best player in football, Baltimore will happily keep paying him as such. The alternative is way worse.