As Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackso͏n gears ͏up for another ͏run at a Super Bowl, the ͏buzz͏ surrounding his potential contract extension continues͏ ͏to grow͏. While Jackson has remained silent on the ͏matter, one͏ prominent NFL analyst didn’t hold ͏back from offering strong, strategic advice on how ͏the M͏VP-caliber quarterback should approach his future.
Colin Cowherd Offers Candid Take on Lamar Jackson’s Contract Path
Lamar Jackson currently ranks 10th among quarterbacks in average annual salary at $52 million, despite finishing second in the MVP race behind Josh Allen, whose APY sits at $55 million. Jackson signed a five-year, $260 million extension with Baltimore in April 2023, which runs through 2027.
Yet as discussions about another adjustment begin to surface, Fox Sports analyst Colin Cowherd delivered a pointed message: Jackson deserves a top-five salary, but he also needs to consider the broader impact on the team’s roster.
“You want a better roster? You want better supporting cast? You’ve gotta take a little less money.”@colincowherd weighs in on Lamar Jackson’s contract talks. pic.twitter.com/XQ38Ymq5KM
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) June 18, 2025
Cowherd listed the quarterbacks currently earning more than Jackson: Dak Prescott, Allen, Joe Burrow, Trevor Lawrence, Jordan Love, Tua Tagovailoa, Brock Purdy, Jared Goff, and Justin Herbert, and questioned the overall quality of the rosters surrounding many of them. According to Cowherd, paying a quarterback top dollar often hampers a team’s ability to build a championship-caliber roster.
He cited examples such as Drew Brees, who took a pay cut in New Orleans to enable better team-building, and Josh Allen, who reportedly gave up $90 million in potential earnings to help the Bills maintain talent. “Josh Allen wants to be an all-time great, not the all-time richest guy,” Cowherd said, using Allen’s approach to highlight the long-term benefits of strategic financial compromise.
Cowherd extended͏ the comparison further by pointing to ͏players like Tom Bra͏dy and Michael Jordan, emphasizing that͏ accolades ͏and legacy͏ often unlock lucrative off-field opportunities. He ͏argued that all-time talents like Jackson can͏ earn beyond͏ the gridiron through endorsements and media, as long as they prioritize championships.
Though Jackson has declined to discuss his contract publicly, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh confirmed in March that internal conversations are underway. “Lamar is the main part of that because he’s the franchise player,” Harbaugh acknowledged.
Jackson’s 2024 performance, a career-best 4,172 passing yards, 41 touchdowns to just four interceptions, along with 915 rushing yards, only strengthens his leverage. Still, Cowherd believes that to secure both a stronger legacy and roster, Jackson must weigh legacy over salary.
In the analyst’s words, “If you’re Kirk Cousins, take the money. If you’re Josh Allen, take a little less and get rings. And I think Lamar’s in that class.”