The Baltimore Ravens are eager to secure quarterback Lamar Jackson with a record-setting contract, but the two-time NFL MVP has reportedly shown reluctance regarding extension discussions, according to ESPN.
Sources indicate that no significant contract extension talks have taken place, with Jackson prioritizing his focus on the upcoming season. This stance positions him as the party holding up a potential deal, despite the Ravens' clear intention to make him the highest-paid player in the league.
Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti stated in January his strong desire to keep Jackson as the team's quarterback, making an extension before the past March's free agency a priority. Bisciotti indicated a willingness to adjust Jackson's contract to reflect a higher annual value while mirroring the structure of his existing deal. "I think that he’s amenable to doing something that mirrors the last deal he did, although the annual number will be a little higher," Bisciotti said, per The Athletic. "But I’m hoping that it’s plug a new number into the same contract he signed last year and move on."
He also emphasized the urgency for the team, noting the impact a looming contract situation could have on their approach to free agency. "And the urgency of that matters to me because we’ve got free agents, and I don’t want to go into free agency with that hanging over our head," Bisciotti added. "I made that clear to Lamar, and I think he was very appreciative of my stance."
Despite these intentions, free agency and training camp have passed without a new agreement. Jackson currently carries a significant cap hit for the 2027 season, which the team would aim to reduce with a new deal. His current five-year, $260 million extension, signed in 2023, has him on track to become a free agent after the 2028 campaign if no new contract is reached.
Jackson is widely considered a potential candidate to become the league's first $70-million-per-year player. He is coming off a season where the Ravens missed the playoffs, leading to a change in coaching staff. The team has appointed Jesse Minter as head coach and Declan Doyle as offensive coordinator. Reflecting on the team's goals, Jackson recently stated, "We talk about how to get there. That’s all it’s been. Each and every year, we never got there. It’s about getting there."
Jackson is expected to enter Sunday's season opener against the Colts without a new deal, and a contract resolution is not anticipated in the immediate future.