In 2023, Lamar Jackson became one of the highest-paid players in NFL history when he inked a lucrative deal with the Baltimore Ravens. Let’s break down his huge payday, including his contract details, how much he’ll earn in 2025, his career earnings, and more.
Lamar Jackson’s Contract Details and Salary
Jackson signed a five-year, $260 million contract with $185 million fully guaranteed. The deal included a $72.5 million signing bonus, and the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player has an average annual salary of $52 million.
At the time, Jackson became the highest-paid player in NFL history. Jackson is still one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL in terms of average annual value, but he has since been surpassed by Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott ($60 million annually), Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow ($55 million), Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence ($55 million), Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love ($55 million), Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa ($53.1 million), Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff ($53 million), San Francisco 49ers QB Brock Purdy ($53 million), and Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert ($52.5 million).
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In 2025, Jackson is earning a base salary of $20.25 million, plus a $14.5 million signing bonus. His total cap hit for this season is $43.5 million. If the Ravens decided to move on from Jackson, they would incur a dead cap hit of $129.25 million. In other words, Jackson isn’t going anywhere.
The negotiations between Jackson and Baltimore were tense at times, but the two sides ultimately reached a deal. Jackson will collect $51.25 million in base salaries in both 2026 and 2027, when his cap charges will reach nearly $75 million. However, his contract is essentially designed to be restructured, providing the Ravens with cap relief at a later date.
To date, Jackson’s career earnings total $187,314,817, and this number is expected to continue increasing significantly over the next few years.
Though Jackson briefly held the title of the NFL’s richest quarterback, his reign was short-lived. Shortly after Jackson’s deal, the Chargers upped the ante by giving Herbert a groundbreaking five-year, $262.5 million contract, further escalating the value of elite quarterback contracts.
Baltimore Ravens’ Insights for Week 13
Team: This is the third Thanksgiving Day game in Ravens history; all have been played in Baltimore. Cincinnati defeated San Francisco in 2011 and Pittsburgh in 2013.
QB: Lamar Jackson had a strong return from his hamstring injury in Week
Offense: The Ravens have committed three turnovers in six wins, all three of which occurred in Week 11 against the Browns. Baltimore has committed 10 in the team’s five losses.
Defense: The Ravens graded in DEFi at a D or D- level in four of the first five games. They received a B- or better in three of the last three games.
Fantasy: Before Week 11, Lamar Jackson had finished a game (excluding injury) with single-digit fantasy points in his career exactly zero times. He’s now done it in consecutive games. The Bengals allow the second-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.
