Ravens Restructure Lamar Jackson's Contract to Free Up Cap Space

The new deal includes a massive signing bonus and a void year to lower the 2026 cap hit.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 12:53pm

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The Baltimore Ravens have restructured quarterback Lamar Jackson's contract, converting a large portion of his 2026 base salary into a signing bonus and adding a void year to the deal. This move frees up nearly $40 million in salary cap space for the Ravens this season, allowing them to sign free agent pass rusher Trey Hendrickson to a four-year, $112 million contract.

Why it matters

Restructuring Jackson's contract was a priority for the Ravens this offseason as they looked to create cap space to address other roster needs. The move demonstrates the team's commitment to keeping their star quarterback while also being able to build a competitive team around him.

The details

Jackson's original 2026 cap hit was $74.5 million, with a $51.25 million base salary. The restructured deal includes a $49.95 million signing bonus, a $1.3 million base salary, and a $750,000 workout bonus. This lowers Jackson's 2026 cap number by nearly $40 million, but increases his 2027 cap hit to $84.49 million.

  • On March 13, 2026, the Ravens restructured Lamar Jackson's contract.
  • The new contract was finalized just before the start of the 2026 NFL league year on March 13.

The players

Lamar Jackson

The starting quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens who signed a restructured contract to free up salary cap space for the team.

Steve Bisciotti

The owner of the Baltimore Ravens who made re-signing Lamar Jackson a priority this offseason.

Trey Hendrickson

The free agent pass rusher who signed a four-year, $112 million contract with the Ravens after they created cap space through Jackson's restructure.

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What they’re saying

“His deal now includes a massive $49.95 million signing bonus, paired with a $1.3 million base salary and a $750K workout bonus.”

— Tom Pelissero, NFL Network reporter (Twitter)

What’s next

The Ravens will need to continue to manage Lamar Jackson's contract in the coming years, as his 2027 cap hit is set to spike to over $84 million.

The takeaway

The Ravens' restructuring of Lamar Jackson's contract demonstrates their commitment to keeping their star quarterback while also giving them the flexibility to build a competitive roster around him. This move allowed them to sign a key free agent in Trey Hendrickson, showing the team's willingness to get creative with the salary cap to field a winning team.