The Baltimore Ravens’ 2026 offseason almost entirely leans on the negotiations around quarterback Lamar Jackson’s next contract. He has an overwhelming $74.5 million cap hit this offseason, and easing the pressure of that money with an extension would make things far more comfortable for Baltimore in the upcoming free agency period.
After the Kansas City Chiefs restructured Patrick Mahomes’ contract to shrink down his $78.2 million cap hit to $34.65 million, the Ravens should be looking to make a similar financial move with Jackson, but in the form of a new contract instead. Time is getting a bit tight to work that out, though.
Thankfully, general manager Eric DeCosta offered a promising update at the NFL Combine on Tuesday. It sounds like things are trending in the right direction.
“Lamar and I have an agreement. We handle business kind of in-house internally. That worked well for us last time, and we will continue to have that policy moving forward,” DeCosta said. “I have spoken to Lamar about a lot of different things over the last month. He's been very engaged. As I said, he was a big value to us in the coaching search, but we'll continue those conversations moving forward.”
This development should bring a glimmer of hope as the Ravens enter one of their biggest offseasons in franchise history.
Ravens may be close to solving Lamar Jackson's $74 million cap mystery
Lamar Jackson should be a Raven for life. There’s not much of a question about his future. On his current deal, he’s under contract through the 2027 campaign. The issue lies in that $74.5 million cap hit, which lives in both 2026 and 2027.
There’s a lot of reasons as to why the Ravens cannot work with that cap hit. They have other priorities this offseason. It starts with three-time Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum.
Fans are hopeful that the team can get an extension done with Linderbaum, and although DeCosta revealed they have a market-setting offer on the table, that would likely wipe out a ton of cap flexibility. If a Linderbaum contract is agreed upon, a Jackson extension would need to follow soon after.
There are other needs, too. Various depth pieces on Baltimore’s roster need new contracts, like outside linebacker Dre'Mont Jones, tight end Charlie Kolar, and others. After an abysmal 2025 season, the front office should also be looking to make some big-time upgrades to steer the team back in the right direction in 2026. All that adds some urgency to solving Jackson's cap number.
DeCosta clearly understands that urgency. They’ve talked about a Lamar Jackson deal tirelessly since last offseason, and owner Steve Bisciotti made it crystal clear that after firing John Harbaugh, they are looking to build the team around Jackson. Of course, that includes another contract to make him a Raven for the foreseeable future.
Jackson should sign a record-setting contract when it’s all said and done. Excluding an injury-riddled 2025 season, he continues to outperform himself every year. It goes without saying that he's a game-changer and one of, if not the best, players in the NFL.
According to Spotrac, Jackson is expected to sign a four-year, $250 million contract with a salary of over $62 million. As easy as it sounds to make him the league’s highest-paid player, the Ravens will be looking to make the best financial decision possible. With all the details surrounding contract talks being held close to heart, there’s no telling how much Jackson will make and when the two sides will agree on that deal. Hopefully it’s sometime soon.