Jamison HensleyFeb 24, 2026, 12:03 PM ETCloseJamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.Follow on XMultiple Authors
Jesse Minter: I want to build a system that allows Lamar Jackson to thrive (1:19)New Ravens coach Jesse Minter joins Rich Eisen and breaks down his vision for the team’s offense with Lamar Jackson. (1:19)
INDIANAPOLIS — Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said Tuesday he’s “definitely” confident that a contract extension can be reached with two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson.
In addition, DeCosta indicated the Ravens have made a “market-setting” proposal to Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum, who is considered one of the top available players in free agency.
Jackson is set to count $74.5 million against the salary cap this season — the second highest in the NFL. The Ravens would likely need to reach a new deal with Jackson or restructure his contract by the start of the league year on March 11, so they can gain more cap space for free agency.
Jackson, 29, is under contract for two more seasons. With a new deal, the Ravens would likely create $30 million in cap space and keep Jackson under contract for another three to four years.
If the sides can’t reach an extension by next month, owner Steve Bisciotti previously said the team would restructure Jackson’s contract, which would not be optimal. By converting a large portion of Jackson’s $51.2 million salary into a signing bonus, Baltimore can create the needed cap room but it would increase Jackson’s cap number in 2027, which is the final year of his deal.
When Jackson signed his last contract with Baltimore, he became the NFL’s highest-paid player at $52 million per season. Now, he currently ranks 10th among quarterbacks in average annual pay, with the Cowboys’ Dak Prescott leading the way at $60 million per season.
“I think we never have as much cap room as we’d like to have, but we feel like we can start at the beginning of the new league year and conduct business,” DeCosta when asked if Jackson’s situation is the big domino to the Ravens’ offseason.
In addition to Jackson, Baltimore is also trying to get a new deal completed with Linderbaum before free agency. DeCosta said the Ravens would not put the franchise tag on him.
“He’s proven to be, in my opinion, the best center in the league,” DeCosta said. “We’ve had conversations since the end of the season, and at this point in time, we’ve made him a market-setting offer.”
Jesse Minter: I want to build a system that allows Lamar Jackson to thrive (1:19)New Ravens coach Jesse Minter joins Rich Eisen and breaks down his vision for the team’s offense with Lamar Jackson. (1:19)
New Ravens coach Jesse Minter joins Rich Eisen and breaks down his vision for the team’s offense with Lamar Jackson. (1:19)
Jamison HensleyFeb 24, 2026, 12:03 PM ETCloseJamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.Follow on XMultiple Authors
CloseJamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.Follow on X
Kansas City’s Creed Humphrey currently leads all NFL centers with $18 million per season.