Ravens Face Tough Lamar Jackson Contract Decision

ESPN analyst suggests Baltimore may have to trade star QB due to salary cap concerns

Apr. 8, 2026 at 11:21pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a football quarterback in mid-throw motion, with the figure broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric planes of navy, green, and orange, conveying the complex and fragmented nature of the Ravens' contract situation with their star player.The Ravens' complex contract negotiations with star QB Lamar Jackson could lead to a dramatic shift in the team's future.Baltimore Today

The Baltimore Ravens and star quarterback Lamar Jackson were unable to agree on a long-term contract extension this offseason, leading the team to restructure his deal to free up $40 million in cap space. However, this is only a short-term solution, as Jackson's cap hit is set to skyrocket to $84 million in 2027, a number the Ravens may not be able to accommodate. ESPN's Louis Riddick suggested that if the two sides can't reach an agreement on a new deal, the Ravens may have to consider trading Jackson, as they can't afford to keep him on the roster at that high of a cap number.

Why it matters

Lamar Jackson is a two-time MVP and the face of the Ravens franchise, so the possibility of trading him would be a seismic shift for the team and the NFL. The Ravens' inability to lock up their star quarterback long-term raises questions about the team's future direction and their commitment to building around Jackson.

The details

The Ravens restructured Jackson's contract this offseason, converting a portion of his salary into a signing bonus to free up around $40 million in cap space. However, this is only a temporary fix, as Jackson's cap hit is set to balloon to $84 million in 2027, the final year of his current deal. Riddick suggested that if the Ravens can't agree to a long-term extension with Jackson, they may have to consider trading him, as they won't be able to afford keeping him on the roster at that high of a cap number.

  • In 2026, Lamar Jackson's cap hit is $34 million.
  • In 2027, Lamar Jackson's cap hit is set to jump to $84 million.

The players

Lamar Jackson

The Baltimore Ravens' star quarterback and two-time NFL MVP.

Louis Riddick

An ESPN analyst who suggested the Ravens may have to trade Lamar Jackson if they can't agree on a long-term contract extension.

Baltimore Ravens

The NFL franchise that employs Lamar Jackson and is facing a difficult decision regarding his future.

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What they’re saying

“No, it's not out of the question. The Ravens are up against the cap here in the future, especially when you're talking about the 2027 cap. Lamar's cap number from this year to next goes from like 34 [million] to 84 [million], they need to get that down. They need to get a long-term extension in place.”

— Louis Riddick, ESPN Analyst

What’s next

The Ravens and Lamar Jackson will continue contract negotiations over the next year, with the team needing to find a way to lower his massive 2027 cap hit. If they are unable to reach an agreement on a long-term extension, the Ravens may be forced to consider trading their star quarterback.

The takeaway

The Ravens' inability to lock up Lamar Jackson long-term has put the team in a difficult salary cap situation, raising the possibility that they may have to trade the two-time MVP if they can't find a way to reduce his future cap hit. This would be a seismic shift for the franchise and the NFL, underscoring the challenges teams face in retaining elite quarterbacks under the current league economics.