Adam Schefter Discusses Time Frame for Lamar Jackson Contract Extension
When Head Coach John Harbaugh was asked about the status of a contract extension for Lamar Jackson last month, he said that "sooner or later, that's definitely going to have to happen."
ESPN insider Adam Schefter discussed what a time frame for a deal to get done could look like during a recent conversation with The Baltimore Sun.
"I'm sure at some point before the start of the season — no rush — the Ravens will probably address Lamar's contract situation," Schefter said. "If you can get his contract redone, make him happier and it's not putting the organization at financial risk, which it wouldn't, then you get that done, and that's what I expect that they'll do."
Schefter said extending the two-time MVP is "a no-brainer."
"When you have a franchise quarterback, it's like having a bank you can always borrow against," he said. "We see it all the time with all these other great quarterbacks."
Jackson signed a five-year, reported $260 million deal during the 2023 offseason that made him the league's highest-paid player at the time. He has a salary-cap hit of $43.5 million in 2025, per overthecap.com, and his cap hit would jump to $74.5 million in each of the next two years.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen signed a six-year contract extension last month reportedly worth $330 million, with $250 million guaranteed. Allen's average per year salary of $55 million is second only to Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott ($60 million).
Harbaugh was clear when asked if it's hard to put a value on Jackson.
"Yes, the value is the top," Harbaugh said. "When Lamar gets paid, he's going to be the highest-paid player in football, just like he was last time. I think every contract he signs till he decides to hang up his cleats, he's going to be that guy."
Have Ravens Widened Gap in AFC North?
The Ravens are favored to capture an unprecedented third straight AFC North title after winning the division by two games in 2024 and three games the previous season.
The Athletic’s AFC North beat writers discussed whether the Ravens have widened the gap in the division this offseason.
"The Ravens have the best front office in the division and continually assemble the best roster," Steelers writer Mike DeFabo wrote. "Even though they have some holes to fill, [General Manager Eric] DeCosta knows how to draft and the Ravens still have enough firepower offensively to hit the ground running. They'd be my favorite to win the division right now, without a doubt."
Browns writer Zac Jackson wrote: "I do think there's a gap from Baltimore to everyone else, but I don't think it's a large one. Two teams have incredible quarterbacks; the other two have incredibly shaky question marks at the position. Three of the teams have the makings of strong defensive units, and the Bengals can outscore most opponents. Jackson is phenomenal, [Derrick] Henry is a load and the Ravens are a well-run, well-coached team. But I don't expect them to cruise to a division title, even if I think they're the deserving favorite."
Ravens writer Jeff Zrebiec said the gap "is about the same."
"The Ravens have mostly maintained this offseason, so I don't see it as if they've created separation," Zrebiec wrote. "I don't know that you can point to one position and say that the Ravens have drastically improved, and that's fine. Their roster has been good enough to win the past few years. They just need to play better in January.
"But the Bengals will be a significant factor. Their defense doesn't have to be great. A middle-of-the-pack defense will probably be a good enough complement for that offense. They'll be right there with a few additional defensive pieces."
Bengals writer Paul Dehner Jr. agreed that Cincinnati is the biggest threat to the Ravens' supremacy in the division.
"The Bengals hope to replicate the Mike MacDonald effect, pulling Al Golden back to the NFL from the college ranks to find stability [on defense]," Dehner wrote. "I think his presence alone can help. If it does, that puts the Bengals in the same upper tier with the Ravens, who played two of the most tightly contested games you'll see that swung the path of the division last year."
Ravens' Roster Ranked Second-Best in NFL Heading Into Draft
The Athletic’s Austin Mock ranked all 32 rosters heading into the draft by using a model that assigned a value to each player that shows their impact on a single game.
The Ravens' roster was No. 2, behind only the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles' roster.
"The Ravens are still trying to get over the hump in the AFC, and this could be their year to do it," Mock wrote. "They are strong at the skill positions, particularly the further you get away from the line of scrimmage. They boast top-10 positional rankings at quarterback, running back, tight end, linebacker, cornerback and safety.
"Sure, they should probably add some wide receiver help for MVP QB Lamar Jackson, but their primary focus in the draft should be in the trenches on both sides of the ball. They rate around average on the offensive and defensive line heading into the 2025 season."
The Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, and Buffalo Bills rounded out the top five.
