Lamar tabling extension talks: 'That time will come'
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is putting his focus on the upcoming season, opting to table discussions of a contract extension for the future.
"The season's here. I'm not worried about (an extension)," Jackson told reporters Wednesday. "You were better off asking that during camp. But I'm locked in. I'm ready for the season to start. That time will come."
Jackson signed a five-year, $260-million contract extension with the Ravens in May 2023. The two-time MVP has a cap hit of $43.5 million this season, according to Over the Cap. His cap number jumps to $74.5 million for the 2026 season.
Signing Jackson to an extension would not only reward the All-Pro passer with a lucrative deal but also provide immediate and future cap flexibility for the Ravens. He's the 10th highest-paid quarterback with an annual average salary of $52 million, well behind Dak Prescott's leading $60 million per season.
General manager Eric DeCosta said recently that there have been conversations between Jackson and the team regarding an extension, but he intends to keep the discussions private.
"I appreciate the question, but it's good to kind of keep these things with the players," DeCosta said last Wednesday, according to team reporter Clifton Brown. "That will continue to be the way we operate. I really wouldn't want to get into any specifics with any of our players and their contract negotiations. I think that hurts the process."
Baltimore gave new deals to starters Derrick Henry, Rashod Bateman, and Ronnie Stanley this offseason and signed safety Kyle Hamilton to a four-year, $100.4-million extension in late August.
Meanwhile, the Ravens have several significant contributors poised to hit free agency following the 2025 season, with Mark Andrews, Tyler Linderbaum, Jaire Alexander, and Odafe Oweh among the contingent.
Jackson, a three-time first-team All-Pro, is preparing for his eighth campaign in Baltimore. The Ravens will play the Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football to open their season, nearly nine months after having their playoff run halted by Josh Allen & Co.