Lamar Jackson’s contract situation is once again hovering over the Baltimore Ravens, even as the star field general has taken steps that suggest he remains invested in the franchise. Jackson reported for the voluntary phase of offseason workouts, a notable development given his past spring absences and the arrival of new head coach Jesse Minter.
Still, his long-term future remains unresolved as Baltimore enters another critical offseason without a fresh extension in place. That uncertainty has now sparked outside concern about whether the Ravens should begin preparing for life after their franchise QB. Former NFL general manager Mike Tannenbaum is among those who believe the clock is already ticking.
Mike Tannenbaum Says Baltimore Should Worry If No Deal Is Done by ‘Opening Day’
During a recent appearance on ESPN’s “Unsportsmanlike,” Tannenbaum was asked how long the Ravens should wait before becoming seriously concerned about Jackson’s intentions. His answer was direct, especially given owner Steve Bisciotti’s public comments about wanting to keep the star quarterback in Baltimore.
“I would think by like opening day, because again, it would be a concern,” Tannebaum said. “I mean, it goes back to what Chris said, like when the owner comes out and says, ‘Hey, we want to get a deal done.’ I mean, there’s no ambiguity there. That’s the guy, like the buck stops with Steve Bisciotti. And if he comes out as he did, understandably, and if they don’t get a deal done again, this offseason, of course, that would be concerning.”
Tannenbaum’s point was that when ownership publicly makes its stance clear, a lack of progress becomes more meaningful. If both sides still cannot finalize an agreement despite that pressure, it raises legitimate questions about what is holding things up.
“Then you have to start thinking about, well, what’s the issue? Why doesn’t he want to be here? Tannenbaum added. “And then do we have to start thinking about drafting his alternative much the way we saw Jordan Love get drafted to replace Aaron Rodgers? But if the owner says that ‘We want you here,’ and a deal doesn’t get done, that would be, of course, a reason to be concerned.”
Jackson’s attendance at voluntary workouts and his willingness to restructure his contract this offseason are both encouraging signs for Baltimore. Those moves suggest he is engaged in the team’s transition under Minter and willing to help create cap flexibility.
That is why the financial side of this situation still matters. Baltimore reportedly lowered Jackson’s short-term cap burden, but in doing so, may have pushed more pressure into future seasons. If the Ravens are eventually forced to negotiate from a weaker position, Jackson could have even more leverage than before.
The Ravens were hardly dominant last season, which underscores the importance of settling this relationship. According to PFSN’s Offense Impact Metric, Baltimore finished 8-9 with a 72.7 OFFi, ranking 20th in the NFL and earning a C- grade, which reflected a team that remained competitive but never truly consistent on the offensive side of the ball.
Jackson’s individual numbers were solid, but not at the MVP level fans have come to expect. According to the PFSN’s Quarterback Impact Metric, he posted a 79.4 QBi, ranking 12th among quarterbacks with a C+ grade.
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In 13 starts, he completed 192 of 302 passes (63.6%) for 2,549 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions, while adding 349 rushing yards and 2 rushing scores, but Baltimore still needs a more complete team performance around him.
For now, Jackson showing up is a positive first step. But if the Ravens cannot turn that momentum into a long-term extension before the season begins, Tannenbaum’s warning may start to feel a lot less hypothetical. And if that happens, Baltimore could be forced to think about a future it has spent years trying to avoid.
