Ravens Will Have Work to Do to Manage 2027 Salary Cap
The Ravens are in good salary-cap shape for 2026, but there is work to be done to make the 2027 cap manageable.
The restructuring of quarterback Lamar Jackson's contract opened up just under $40 million in cap space for this season, but it made his 2027 cap number rise from $74.5 million to $84.49 million. The Baltimore Banner’s Giana Han pointed out that other players also have significant cap numbers next year.
"Two of the top three contracts remain just as high [next season]," Han wrote. "[Inside linebacker Roquan] Smith's cap hit stays steady at $32.7 million, while [defensive tackle Nnamdi] Madubuike's makes a small jump from $30.975 million to $31.475 million. It's unclear if Madubuike will return this season after suffering a season-ending neck injury early in 2025.
"Meanwhile, safety Kyle Hamilton's cap hit more than doubles, from about $10.7 million to $26 million. [Left tackle Ronnie] Stanley's goes from about $9.8 million to over $24 million. Tight end Mark Andrews' goes from just under $7 million to about $14.7 million. Running back Derrick Henry's and defensive lineman Travis Jones' cap hits will also jump more than $10 million in 2027."
Han noted that "being tight against the cap is the price to pay for stars."
The Ravens have time to figure out how to make the 2027 cap work. The first domino that could fall is a contract extension for Jackson.
Pundit Believes Tyler Loop Can Make a Leap, Rashod Bateman Can Bounce Back in 2026
Tyler Loop's rookie season ended in heartbreaking fashion, but he otherwise had a solid year. So, what should expectations for him be in 2026?
Russell Street Report’s Darin McCann listed Loop among the Ravens players he believes can make a leap next season.
"This could go one of two ways," McCann wrote. "After air-mailing the most clutch kick attempt of his life and subsequently putting into action one of the most consequential offseasons in Ravens history, we could see a Tyler Loop who has fixed his kickoff problems and learned to conquer whatever snuck into his head before that kick, or we could see the result of being a young player who had the proverbial world fall around him in front of the world and never recovered. I'm betting on him."
Before Loop's game-winning 44-yard field goal attempt went wide right in the regular-season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers that decided the AFC North title, he had gone 29-for-29 on kicks under 50 yards. For the season, Loop had an 88.2 field-goal percentage, which was above the league average of 85.6.
Owner Steve Bisciotti expressed confidence in Loop during the season-ending press conference.
"He's going to be a great kicker. He's going to learn from this," Bisciotti said. "I think that kid's resilient enough from what I've learned, and he'll be our kicker next year."
Wide receiver Rashod Bateman was another player McCann identified as a bounce-back candidate.
After posting career highs of 756 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in 2024, Bateman had just 224 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games last season.
"I wonder if a new staff and passing game can unlock the tasty hints we've seen from Bateman in the past," McCann wrote.
Ravens Crack Top Five in PFF's Post-Free Agency Power Rankings
Speaking of bounce-back candidates, the Ravens are trending up after missing the playoffs last season.
Baltimore is No. 4 in Pro Football Focus’ post-free agency power rankings, thanks in large part to the addition of pass rusher Trey Hendrickson.
"After finishing the 2025 season ranked in the bottom five in team PFF pass-rush grade (62.1) and pressure rate (31.4%), the Ravens spared no expense to strengthen the unit by signing Trey Hendrickson to a massive contract," PFF's Mason Cameron wrote. "The move gives the Ravens an answer to one of their biggest issues in 2025 and provides the defense with a player well acquainted with the physical nature of the AFC North.
"Although the loss of center Tyler Linderbaum is a tough pill to swallow, the Ravens still possess the two key pieces to their offensive philosophy in quarterback Lamar Jackson and workhorse running back Derrick Henry."
The only teams ranked ahead of the Ravens were (in order): the Los Angeles Rams, Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, and Buffalo Bills.
USA Today’s Jack McKessy noted that the Ravens still have holes to fill, but they have the draft capital (11 picks) to do so.
"The Ravens' draft-centric approach to continue building up its roster is also reflected in their free agent strategy thus far," McKessy wrote. "General manager Eric DeCosta was content letting many of Baltimore's 2026 free agents walk (mostly to the Giants and former Baltimore Head Coach John Harbaugh) and worked on reinforcing some of the roster weak spots with a few savvy deals.
"John Simpson is back with the Ravens to improve their interior offensive line, edge rusher Trey Hendrickson should improve their pass-rush, and signings like safety Jaylinn Hawkins and Durham Smythe fill in the holes left behind by free agent departures."
