Lamar Jackson’s place among the NFL elite is no longer a debate.
At just 28, the Ravens quarterback already owns two MVP awards and back-to-back First-Team All-Pro selections. His value to Baltimore is obvious, but the team is now approaching a familiar fork in the road: how to keep their franchise cornerstone while balancing future salary cap realities.
Lamar Jackson contract talks heat up
Jackson is currently in the second year of a five-year, $260 million contract.
Yet internal conversations about extending that deal are already underway.
According to reports, the Ravens“would love” to strike a new agreement before the season begins, a move aimed at avoiding another drawn-out negotiation like the one in 2023, which nearly led to Jackson’s departure.
Head coach John Harbaugh acknowledged the long-term planning back in March.
“That’s going to continue to have to be addressed… Lamar is the main part of that because he’s the franchise player,” Harbaugh said.
He added, “When Lamar gets paid, he’s going to be the highest-paid player in football.”
But Jackson’s own sentiments suggest a lingering wariness.
Over the weekend, he posted a cryptic Instagram story: “Once I show my love they show me why they don’t deserve it, right then soon as I put my guard down that’s when they hurt me.”
The message, unnamed but telling, stirred memories of the emotional toll taken during the last round of contract talks, when Jackson went as far as requesting a trade on social media.
This time, Baltimore has more than emotional healing to consider.
The team recently freed up $30 million in cap space, a move some interpret as setting the stage for a Jackson extension.
Still, others, including Jackson himself, perhaps, may see it as a sign of shifting priorities.
Adding pressure is the league’s rapidly evolving quarterback market.
With Brock Purdy recently signing a five-year, $265 million extension, Jackson’s average annual salary now ranks outside the top 10.
While Jackson doesn’t appear interested in chasing status, the Ravens have been clear about wanting him near the top.
The risk of waiting is growing.
Jackson’s cap hits spike to $74.5 million in 2026 and 2027.
A new deal would likely smooth out those figures, and reaffirm Baltimore’s commitment.
The Ravens insist it’s just a matter of time.
But if history has taught them anything, it’s that with Jackson, timing matters just as much as trust.
Read the full article here
