Overview
- Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said Wednesday he is “optimistic” the team and Lamar Jackson can complete an extension before the next league year in March but declined to provide details.
- Reporting notes Jackson is owed roughly $52 million in cash in each of the next two seasons, carries an estimated $84.3 million cap hit in 2027, and has no-franchise-tag and no-trade protections that boost his negotiating leverage.
- Jackson represents himself rather than using a traditional agent, which creates a direct and idiosyncratic negotiating dynamic with the Ravens' front office.
- Baltimore restructured Jackson’s contract this offseason to lower the 2026 cap hit and used that space to add players, yet completing an extension would reduce the 2027 charge and free room for future roster building.
- Multiple outlets report Jackson could decide to play through 2026 without a new deal to let 2027 extensions for top 2024 draftees set the quarterback market, a strategy that could raise his asking price toward reported levels of up to about $70 million per year.