The Baltimore Ravens have begun talks with Lamar Jackson over a new deal that is expected to rival the contract Josh Allen signed with the Buffalo Bills back in March. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta has said that talks are at the “introductory” stage, while revealing that the team is looking to tie down a number of key players.
Lamar Jackson, Ravens, In Talks Over a New Contract
Jackson is currently the NFL’s 10th-highest-paid quarterback in average yearly salary. Most would argue that the two-time league MVP, who led the league in PFSN’s QB+ metric in 2024, should be far higher on that list.
Since signing his last extension in 2023, Jackson has been overtaken by the likes of Jordan Love, Trevor Lawrence, and most recently, Brock Purdy.
Speaking on the “BMore Baseball Podcast,” DeCosta suggested that an extension for Jackson is on the cards. He then stated that the talks with Jackson were part of the team’s big plans to keep several stars in Baltimore long-term.
“We’re in a situation where we’re blessed to have most of the team coming back, but as we look out over the next two, three, four, five years, we’re trying to keep as many good players as we can.
“We’ve got some guys that we feel like have a chance to really be prolific players for us that can be here a long time. We’re trying to get as many of those guys signed up as possible. That’s a big challenge, and Lamar’s certainly a big part of that.”
Could Jackson’s Contract Surpass Josh Allen’s?
Jackson is under contract for three more years in Baltimore, but has no guaranteed salary in his final year — something he’d no doubt like addressed in any new deal. Speaking on the potential new deal, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler suggested that the Ravens are mimicking the approach taken by the Bills regarding Allen.
“So, the Ravens are taking a page from what the Bills did this offseason with Josh Allen. Josh Allen has several years left on his deal. They try to get in front of things. ‘Let’s give you a big raise, about 30% per year.’ They gave him a new six-year, $330 million contract back in March.”
While the Ravens would like a similarly pain-free negotiation as the Bills had with Allen, Jackson will likely be less accommodating than the man who succeeded him as MVP this year. Allen is known to have left around $5 million per year on the table to avoid hindering the team’s chances of a Super Bowl.
Fowler suggested that Jackson will likely not do such a thing, having proved himself a capable negotiator in the past.
“The thing is, he’s a true negotiator. He’s willing to play this out, make the team uncomfortable, play on the franchise tag like we saw in the past. So, I don’t think he’s gonna take the first deal they offer. There’s going to be some back and forth here.”
While a shorter contract than Allen’s, Dak Prescott’s average yearly salary of $60 million is the highest in the league. Prescott signed the four-year, $240 million extension in 2024, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Jackson demand similar, if not even better, yearly numbers.
In a modern NFL, in which top players are signing previously unfathomable contracts with regularity, Jackson’s next contract could take the quarterback market into another stratosphere.