Mink: I do not think the Ravens will trade for Micah Parsons, even though Baltimore has been cited as an “obvious candidate.” I don't think Parsons, who has publicly asked to be dealt, will be traded at all. His contract extension saga will probably play out similar to other superstar negotiations of the past in Dallas – a long, drawn-out process in which a deal ultimately gets struck. We've seen this time and time again. Just because a player asks for a trade doesn't mean it's going to happen.
The Ravens do not have the salary-cap space either now or in the future to accommodate the kind of mega deal that Parsons is seeking. Baltimore already has a line around the block of excellent young players worthy of an extension, including Lamar Jackson, Kyle Hamilton, Tyler Linderbaum, Isaiah Likely, Travis Jones, Odafe Oweh, and more.
Even if the Ravens could make it work financially, I doubt General Manager Eric DeCosta would be willing to give up the trade capital required (likely multiple first-round picks) to get Parsons. Parsons is a great player, but he had two more sacks than Oweh (his Penn State college teammate) last season. As enticing as it would be to see Parsons in purple and black, I don't think the Ravens would give away the farm to get him.
Brown: I understand why you're asking, but I have no update to share!
DeCosta and Jackson prefer to keep details of their contract discussions private. Jackson took a pass on answering questions about his contract negotiations when asked during mandatory minicamp in June.
"You know I never discuss contract situations here," Jackson said with a smile. "I don't want to talk about it. Is that OK with you?"
Jackson signed a five-year, reported $260 million deal during the 2023 offseason that made him the NFL's highest-paid player at the time. He has a $43.5 million cap hit in 2025, per OvertheCap.com, that jumps to $74.5 million next season.
Reworking Jackson's contract or extending him would give the Ravens far more flexibility to sign pending free agents (see above) or make other moves.
Recent NFL quarterback contracts have raised the bar for Jackson's next deal. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen signed a six-year, reported $330 million ($250 million guaranteed) contract extension in March. The Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott currently tops quarterbacks with a contract averaging $60 million per season.
DeCosta said in June that contract negotiations had started with Jackson. However, the timetable for reaching a new agreement remains to be seen. Updates are usually few and far between, and I'd expect that pattern to continue.
Mink: Yes, there have been practices with too many pre-snap penalties (mostly false starts). Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken expressed his displeasure after one practice with five false starts, and there was another day with seven when Ronnie Stanley chucked his helmet in frustration. Roger Rosengarten called himself "mentally weak" after jumping early on the first rep of 11-on-11 drills during Saturday's M&T Bank Stadium practice.
However, I honestly think it's a little overblown. This is what happens when you're trying to improve on mixing up cadences, which the Ravens are emphasizing this summer to better keep opposing defenses on their toes. Whenever you're working through something new, there will be mistakes. You obviously want to see improvement as camp progresses, but there's still a month before Week 1's game in Buffalo. There's time to keep working at it.
For reference, the Ravens were in the middle of the pack (tied for 14th) with 21 false starts last year. They had the same amount as the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles and rival Pittsburgh Steelers. The Ravens want to get better across the board, including with cutting down penalties, but there are many other areas of focus, too.
Brown: I certainly expect rookie LaJohntay Wester to be part of the preseason wide receiver rotation.
Wester has displayed some solid reps at wide receiver recently, including a touchdown catch at the M&T Bank Stadium practice during a red zone session. However, his top priority remains winning the competition to be the team's No. 1 punt returner, a role that Anthony Miller and Dayton Wade are also vying for. However, Wester is sure-handed with quick moves after making the catch. It will be interesting to see his ability to create separation and run precise routes during games.
It's hard to envision Wester making much impact at wide receiver in 2025 in a talented room led by Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and DeAndre Hopkins. But during the preseason, Baltimore's top wideouts won't be seeing much preseason action, if any. That should give Wester a chance to show what he can do.
