Ravens Count on To Make Lamar Jackson NFL’s Highest-Paid Participant Till He Retires: ‘Worth Is At The High’

The following time Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson indicators a contract, he would be the highest-paid participant in NFL historical past. That’s the aim for each side, as he was after his first contract extension. And that’s the aim for each contract he indicators from now till he retires, HC John Harbaugh mentioned.

Addressing the media in the course of the annual league conferences, Harbaugh didn’t provide any reservations. He believes that in Lamar Jackson the Ravens have the most effective participant within the league, and the wage that follows. As issues stand, he has already fallen behind significantly, however that’s what occurs when the subsequent man indicators a contract.

“The worth is the highest”, he mentioned of how the Ravens worth Jackson. “When Lamar will get paid, he’s going to be the highest-paid participant in soccer, identical to he was final time. I believe each contract he indicators until he decides to hold up his cleats, he’s going to be that man”.

Jackson signed a five-year, $260 million contract in 2023, paying him $52 million per season. Already, that solely ranks eighth within the NFL by way of common annual wage. The Cowboys’ Dak Prescott tops the checklist at $60 million, adopted by Joe Burrow and Josh Allen at $55 million.

Burrow signed his extension the identical 12 months the Ravens prolonged Jackson, however did so later within the 12 months. He received a complete of $275 million, bumping him up $3 million per 12 months on the time over Jackson. When he first signed the deal, nevertheless, it was the very best common annual wage in league historical past.

Since then, Lamar Jackson has had two first-team All-Professional seasons, and was the NFL MVP in 2023. Final season, he completed second in MVP voting to Josh Allen, regardless of incomes first-team honors over him. Arguably, the Ravens noticed the most effective season of his profession a 12 months in the past.

Throughout the 2024 season, Jackson went 316-for-474 passing for 4,172 yards, 41 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. He rushed for 915 yards and 4 extra touchdowns, although additionally noticed 10 fumbles charged towards him. Whereas he helped the Ravens to a 12-5 file, beating the Steelers within the Wild Card Spherical, they misplaced to Allen’s Payments within the Divisional Spherical.

Lamar Jackson’s present contract with the Ravens runs by the 2027 season. Sometimes for franchise quarterbacks, they obtain new contracts with two years remaining on their deal, which means Jackson must be new for a brand new extension in 2026.

A tough early estimate of what the NFL wage cap may appear to be in 2026 places it at about $307 million. How a lot greater may the Ravens go along with Jackson’s deal over Prescott’s $60 million benchmark? At the moment, that determine is to this point above anyone else that it’s laborious to gauge.

Over the previous two seasons, the Ravens have seen appreciable enchancment from Jackson as a passer. Throughout that point, he has accomplished 67 % of his passes with a 65-to-11 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He’s averaging 8.4 yards per cross try with a 111.3 quarterback score. In the identical span, he has rushed for 1,736 yards and 9 touchdowns, and is able to extra.