Three Moves Ravens Could Make to Create Salary-Cap Space
The Ravens are projected to have just under $6 million in salary cap space by Over the Cap, which means they will need to find ways to create more space.
The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec identified nine moves the team could explore. Here are three of them:
Extend or restructure QB Lamar Jackson
"General Manager Eric DeCosta acknowledged at the Ravens' end-of-season news conference that he will probably talk to Jackson, who doesn't have an agent, about his contract this offseason. Jackson's $43.7 million cap hit is the highest on the team, and it grows to over $74 million in 2026 and 2027. The two-time MVP's contract has to be addressed at some point, and star quarterbacks aren't suddenly going to get cheaper.
"Would DeCosta, whose negotiations with Jackson in 2023 represented one of the most challenging times of his career, be willing to jump right back into extensive talks just two years later? If he's not, the Ravens could still open up a significant amount of cap space by restructuring Jackson's deal. That, however, will kick even more money down the road."
Extend RB Derrick Henry
"Of all the extensions the Ravens could execute with veteran players, this one probably makes the most sense. Henry told The Athletic's Dianna Russini before the NFL Honors Awards show that he wants to end his career with the Ravens. In rushing for 1,921 yards and totaling 18 touchdowns in 2024, he also showed he still has a lot of good football left.
"He is entering the final year of his contract and carries a salary-cap hit of just under $13 million. Extending a 31-year-old running back carries risk in general, but Henry is a freakish athlete and doesn't look like a guy whose performance is close to falling off the table. Lowering his 2025 cap number with an extension and keeping him in the fold over the next couple of years is seemingly a no-brainer."
Extend CB Marlon Humphrey
"At this time last year, Humphrey's future with the Ravens looked tenuous following an injury-plagued 2023 season. However, Humphrey rebounded this past year by re-establishing himself as one of the league's top corners and becoming a two-time first-team All-Pro.
"He turns 29 in July, but the more important number at play is his $25 million cap charge for 2025. That's the second highest on the team. An extension could lower that number significantly while easing some of Baltimore's long-term concerns at the position. He's a candidate for a restructure, too."
Kyle Hamilton Says He's Focused on Football, Not Contract Extension Talks
Kyle Hamilton is eligible for a contract extension this offseason, and one projection has the All-Pro resetting the safety market with an annual value of $22 million for four years.
Hamilton, however, remains focused on football, not his future earnings.
"I told my agents and family I don't want to talk about any sort of contract stuff," Hamilton said via The Baltimore Sun’s Brian Wacker. "I just want to play football.
"That's my main focus, is just focus on football, get ready, get back in for OTAs and all that stuff. All the other stuff, I'll let my agents handle it."
The Ravens will presumably pick up Hamilton's fifth-year option (keeping him under contract for 2026) by May 1 if an extension isn't reached before then.
Hamilton, the 14th-overall selection in 2022, is coming off a season in which he recorded a career-high 107 tackles and finished in the top 10 in voting for Defensive Player of the Year.
Moving the versatile Hamilton from his Swiss Army Knife role to a traditional safety during the second half of this past season was a major factor in the defense's dramatic turnaround.
Daniel Jeremiah Mocks Explosive Edge Rusher to Ravens
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah released his second mock draft, and he has the Ravens selecting Texas A&M edge rusher Shemar Stewart.
"Stewart just feels like a Raven to me," Jeremiah wrote. "He's big, explosive and disruptive. The production will come."
Stewart had just four sacks over 37 career college games, but Jeremiah said the 6-foot-6, 290-pounder is a "height-weight-speed freak" and "all of his traits are elite."
The Ravens' 54 sacks this past season were the second-most in the league, but adding another game-wrecking pass rusher could take the defense to an even higher level.
Jeremiah had the Ravens taking Florida State cornerback Azareye'h Thomas in his initial mock draft.
Henry Posted Highest-Ever PFF Rushing Grade in 2024
Henry wasn't just Pro Football Focus' highest-graded running back this past season; he was historically great.
"Henry's 93.5 rushing grade this season was the highest ever recorded in the PFF era (since 2006)," PFF’s Mason Cameron wrote. "Despite some expecting a drop-off at age 30, Henry's motor is unceasing. The bruising back led all qualifying backs in yards per carry (6.0), first down rushes (105) and missed tackles forced on carries (88) – all of which land in the top eight in PFF history."
Henry's first year in Baltimore was the second-most productive season of his career, exceeded only by his 2020 campaign with the Tennessee Titans when he rushed for 2,027 yards.
