Full Breakdown
Ravens Aim to Extend Lamar Jackson’s Deal Before the 2027 League Year
9/3/2026, 1:45:16 AM
Core Event
Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said on Wednesday that he is “optimistic” the franchise will reach a new contract extension with quarterback Lamar Jackson before the league’s new year begins in March. DeCosta declined to provide specifics, emphasizing the “different type of negotiation” that stems from Jackson representing himself without an agent.
Background & Context
Jackson signed a five-year, $260 million contract in April 2023, making him the league’s highest-paid player at the time. The deal runs through the 2027 season, leaving two years remaining. Negotiations for that original contract were described as “messy,” including a brief trade request after the team placed a non-exclusive franchise tag on Jackson in March 2023. In the 2026 offseason the Ravens restructured the contract, lowering the 2026 cap hit but pushing a larger commitment into 2027.
Owner Steve Bisciotti has repeatedly stated that extending Jackson is an organizational priority. The quarterback has publicly expressed a desire to stay in Baltimore, though he has not commented on the status of talks.
Data & Statistics
- Current contract: five-year, $260 million (average $52 million per season, 11th-highest NFL average).
- Cap hit for 2027: reported as $84.34 million and $84.3 million, placing it among the three highest in the league.
- Over The Cap projects the cap hit to rise from $43.5 million in 2025 to $74.5 million in 2026 and 2027.
- Jackson’s 2025 season: missed five games due to injury, threw for 2,549 yards and 21 touchdowns; the Ravens missed the playoffs.
Official Statements & Responses
He noted a longstanding “pact” with Jackson to keep business discussions private, a practice he has reiterated many times. DeCosta also referenced the team’s history of navigating similar negotiations, describing the situation as “just communication.”
The Ravens’ restructuring of Jackson’s contract was presented as a move to create cap flexibility for the 2026 roster while acknowledging the large 2027 cap commitment. DeCosta indicated that securing an extension before March would provide additional financial leeway for upcoming personnel decisions.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact 2027 cap figure: NBC Sports cites $84.340 million, TSN lists $84.3 million, and a separate report describes the amount as the “third highest in the NFL” without a precise figure. Over The Cap’s projection of a $74.5 million hit for 2026–27 also contrasts with the $84-million figure, suggesting the restructuring may have shifted but not eliminated the high future cap burden. No source provides a definitive timeline for when a new agreement might be finalized beyond the March deadline.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We would love to get a deal done as soon as possible.” — ESPN's Jamison Hensley. He
- “We try to compensate our players, our best players as well as we can,” — Eric DeCosta, ravens general manager
- “I really don’t like to get into details,” — Eric DeCosta, ravens general manager
- “Lamar and I have a pact -- as you all know, I’ve said probably 50 times -- we’re not going to talk about business publicly,” — Eric DeCosta, ravens general manager
These statements capture the Ravens’ public stance on the negotiations, the organization’s compensation philosophy, DeCosta’s reluctance to discuss details, and the unique agent-less dynamic of Jackson’s representation.
