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By Robert Marvi
Contributing Sports Writer
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Just a few years ago, it looked like superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson was on the verge of leaving the Baltimore Ravens. He declined a lucrative contract extension during the 2022 offseason, and his future with the team hung over the franchise throughout the subsequent season.
After receiving the Ravens' non-exclusive franchise tag in March 2023, Jackson asked to be traded, only to get a five-year, $260 million contract. It was the biggest contract in NFL history at the time, and for the 2026 season, his salary cap hit from that deal will go from $43.5 million to a massive $74.5 million.
As great a player as Jackson is, a $74.5 million cap hit seems absurd. Jeff Zrebiec wrote in a recent article for The Athletic that the Ravens will likely have to restructure the QB's contract in order to give themselves enough flexibility to improve the cast around him.
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"Lamar Jackson’s contract status is hovering over another Ravens offseason, and it has major ramifications on what general manager Eric DeCosta is able to do to solidify his roster around the star quarterback," Zrebiec wrote. "Jackson’s salary cap number is $74.5 million. If that’s not lowered significantly, DeCosta will have no flexibility to add or even retain key Ravens. Owner Steve Bisciotti made clear last month that the Ravens will either extend Jackson or add void years to his deal to lower his 2026 cap number. The clock is ticking for the Ravens and Jackson to find a resolution."
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Needless to say, the Ravens want Jackson to remain with them for the rest of his career. His career has already been a Hall of Fame-caliber one, as he has won two regular-season MVP awards and made four Pro Bowls in eight seasons. In 2025, he threw for 2,549 yards and 21 touchdowns despite missing four games due to injury, and a strong argument could be made that he, and not Josh Allen, should've won the 2024 MVP award.
But Jackson and the Ravens have had little team success when it has mattered most. Since he became their starter as a rookie in 2018, they have reached the AFC Championship game just once. Critics claim that Jackson simply doesn't have what it takes to win a big game and get over the hump for whatever reason.
The flip side of that argument is that perhaps he hasn't had enough help. Baltimore could use another legitimate threat at the wide receiver position, and it also needs a stronger pass-rush attack. While it is projected to have roughly $20 million in salary cap space, that may not be enough to strengthen the cast around Jackson enough, even in what could be a wide-open AFC.
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The Ravens are coming off a frustrating season in which they were picked to reach the Super Bowl by many, only to start 1-5 and finish 8-9 while missing the playoffs. Jackson recently turned 29 years of age and has been a bit injury-prone, and his biological clock is starting to tick louder. That means Baltimore needs to have more urgency in building a championship team, and Jackson may need to help out by agreeing to alter his contract.
For more on the Ravens and general NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
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