Year in and year out, the Baltimore Ravens are among the best teams in the NFL.
They have an elite roster, a solid coaching situation, and one of the best quarterbacks in the league.
Unfortunately, that hasn’t been enough to get over the hump.
That’s why FOX Sports host Colin Cowherd doesn’t think that asking for more money is in Lamar Jackson’s best interests right now.
Instead, he said Jackson should take a pay cut in his next contract extension to make sure the team stays competitive.
“When you pay the quarterback big money, it hurts your overall roster. I think Lamar Jackson’s smart enough to figure that out. For Lamar, he’s gotta get that ring. I think he’s an all-time talent. It’s very simple to figure out. You want a better roster? You want better supporting cast? You’ve gotta take a little less money. If you believe you’re an all-time great talent, and I think Lamar is in that class, then money becomes secondary,” Cowherd said on “The Herd.”
"You want a better roster? You want better supporting cast? You've gotta take a little less money."@colincowherd weighs in on Lamar Jackson's contract talks. pic.twitter.com/XQ38Ymq5KM
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) June 18, 2025
Jackson signed a five-year contract worth $260 million in 2023.
He and the team went through a long saga, but the QB ultimately prevailed while representing himself.
He will be eligible to sign another extension, and he recently declined to comment on that.
Though he’s among the best players in the game and is entitled to being compensated as such, perhaps that’s not a luxury the Ravens can afford at the moment.
As great as he is, Jackson has left plenty to be desired in the playoffs.
He’s drawn criticism for his postseason shortcomings, when he hasn’t been close to as dominant as he’s been in the regular season.
Perhaps he needs to lead the Ravens to a Super Bowl win before demanding a contract that could severely impair the ability to keep elite talent around him.
NEXT: Lamar Jackson Says He's Trying To Recruit Free Agent CB