Ravens, Lamar Jackson Reportedly Set to Enter Contract Extension Talks
With new Head Coach Jesse Minter in place and his staff nearly complete, the Ravens' top priority now becomes working out a contract extension with Lamar Jackson.
Owner Steve Bisciotti said last month that he wants a new deal with Jackson finalized before the start of free agency (March 11) because the quarterback's $74.5 million cap hit would hinder the Ravens' financial flexibility.
NFL Network's Mike Garafolo said the Ravens and Jackson are expected to enter contract talks in the near future, and he squashed speculation that the team would consider trading the two-time MVP.
"I know the speculation has begun: 'Could the Baltimore Ravens potentially trade Lamar Jackson?' Nah. Not feeling that," Garafolo said on “NFL GameDay Morning” on Sunday. "In fact, let's turn our attention to a potential contract extension."
Garafolo added that Jackson was involved in the search for a new head coach and offensive coordinator.
"He was on the virtual interviews with head coaching candidates. He was consulted for the offensive coordinator job, which went to Declan Doyle," Garafolo said. "Steve Bisciotti, the owner, loves him. Add all that up and folks would be flabbergasted if the Ravens potentially moved on from Lamar Jackson."
Trade Proposal Has Ravens Giving Up a Haul to Acquire Maxx Crosby
There's a lot of speculation that Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby could be traded this offseason, and the Ravens have been mentioned as a potential landing spot for the five-time Pro Bowler.
"There are some natural would-be contenders, including the Bills, Lions, 49ers, Cowboys and Ravens," ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote regarding teams that could pursue Crosby.
Fowler added that he believes possibly as many as 20 teams "will at least inquire with levels of serious intent."
Crosby, who underwent meniscus surgery last month, plans to be ready for the early portion of the offseason program, according to Fowler.
Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton named the Ravens one of five teams that make the most sense to trade for Crosby. Moton's proposal has Baltimore sending the Raiders a 2026 first-round pick, 2027 first-round pick, outside linebacker Tavius Robinson, and inside linebacker Trenton Simpson to Las Vegas in exchange for Crosby.
"No one can replicate what Crosby does on the edge, though the Raiders can pursue young talent to support a full-blown youth movement in their defensive rebuild," Moton wrote. "In a deal with the Ravens, the Raiders should inquire about young defenders as the team transitions into a new system under defensive-minded head coach Jesse Minter. As he implements his plans, Baltimore may be willing to part ways with Tavius Robinson and Trenton Simpson, who were fit for the previous regime."
That's obviously a lot to give up, but it's not an unrealistic proposal for a player of Crosby's magnitude. To acquire four-time All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons before the start of the season, the Green Bay Packers sent 2026 and 2027 first-round picks and three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark to the Dallas Cowboys.
Upgrading the pass rush is a priority for the Ravens, and The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec said last month that General Manager Eric DeCosta could "take a big swing on a veteran acquisition."
"The Ravens haven't really had that game-wrecking pass rusher since Terrell Suggs was in his prime," Zrebiec wrote. "You want your defense to get off the field more often and end this pattern of gut-wrenching losses and blown leads? You want your defense to get back to being feared again? Be willing to dip into your draft capital and trade a young player or two to acquire Las Vegas Raiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby. He'd completely change the face of the Ravens defense, which had a rough 2025."
Ravens Among Top 5 Betting Favorites to Win Next Season's Super Bowl
After entering the season as Super Bowl favorites and then missing the playoffs entirely, the Ravens again are among the teams oddsmakers are giving the best chance of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy next season.
The Ravens are tied with the Buffalo Bills for the third-best Super Bowl odds (+1200), per BetMGM via The Athletic behind the defending champion Seattle Seahawks (+800) and Los Angeles Rams (+900).
"Lamar Jackson should keep the Ravens in contention, but Derrick Henry is 32 years old with a lot of carries under his belt," The Athletic's Dan Santaromita wrote. "The team will have to find Jackson more help to return to contention."
On DraftKings Sportsbook, the Ravens, New England Patriots, and Philadelphia Eagles are tied for the fourth-best Super Bowl odds (+1300) behind the Seahawks (+950), Rams (+950), and Bills (+1100).
Our Clifton Brown listed 10 reasons why the Ravens can make the Super Bowl next season.
Ravens Land in Middle of the Pack in Two Sets of Early Power Rankings
Several outlets didn't waste any time putting out their 2026 power rankings. Here's a look at where the Ravens landed:
"Baltimore's priority is reaching a new contract with Lamar Jackson and getting the two-time NFL MVP back on track on the field. The first issue is reducing Jackson's $74.5 million salary cap number, and Owner Steve Bisciotti spoke to Jackson about the urgency to create more cap room before the start of free agency in March. Then, Baltimore's new coaching staff will look to build a scheme around Jackson, who is coming off 2,549 passing yards and 21 touchdowns – both of which are his lowest since 2022. The good news: Jackson has won NFL MVP the past two times Baltimore hired a new offensive coordinator." – Jamison Hensley
"Jesse Minter inherited a gold mine from John Harbaugh. If Lamar Jackson can stay healthy, this team is still good enough to immediately become a Super Bowl contender again." – Ralph Vacchiano
"The Ravens are rebooting without John Harbaugh but borrowed well from Jim and John with Jesse Minter taking over as defensive-minded coach. They should be right back in the AFC title mix with a healthy Lamar Jackson." – Vinnie Iyer
Why Voters Got It Wrong by Not Electing Suggs and Marshal Yanda to 2026 Hall of Fame Class
Neither Suggs nor Marshal Yanda were elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in their second year of eligibility, and Sports Illustrated’s Josh Reed believes the voters got it wrong.
"It's a travesty that neither Suggs nor Yanda was selected for induction as a part of the 2026 class," Reed wrote. "Suggs is the only retired player who ranks in the top 10 all-time in sacks who is not in the Hall of Fame and will have to wait another year to get a third chance. Yanda was the best interior lineman not only of his era but of all time and walked away while he was still at the top of his game."
Regarding the 2026 class, Reed said quarterback Drew Brees and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald being elected as first-ballot candidates was well-deserved, but he contended that Suggs and Yanda had stronger cases than linebacker Luke Kuechly and kicker Adam Vinatieri, who were both elected in their second years of eligibility.
"Mounting injuries caused Luke Kuechly to play less than a decade in the league, while Suggs played nearly a decade longer and is a two-time Super Bowl champion in addition to being a seven-time Pro Bowler, Defensive Player of the Year and Defensive Rookie of the Year, the latter three of which they have in common," Reed wrote. "Adam Vinatieri held on longer than he should've at 24 years and had been surpassed by Yanda's teammate Justin Tucker as the most clutch and accomplished kicker of all-time long before he decided to finally hang up his cleats."
As noted by our Ryan Mink, there's a good chance Suggs and Yanda will get the Hall call next year.
