Things can take a twist and turn in Baltimore once again in the wake of the Maxx Crosby trade that was nullified earlier this offseason, but the hottest topic right now is QB Lamar Jackson. Selected as a first-round pick in 2018, the former Louisville product became one of the league’s top quarterbacks and was close to a trade a few years ago. Jason La Canfora and several sources are “shocked” that Jackson has not been offered a new deal, as the Ravens could be running out of time the longer they wait before the 2026 season.
“Why won’t the Ravens pay Lamar, again, before lesser QBs get paid? What’s the holdup now? The risks are greater than ever,” he said.
It’s easy to see why there is panic in Baltimore regarding Jackson’s contract status. Last year, the Buffalo Bills signed QB Josh Allen to a monster deal to set a record as the highest-paid player by guarantees. Time has been crunching ever since, and if the Ravens decide to wait until after the 2026 season, the price could go up.
Lamar Jackson
Main Photo: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Lamar Jackson Trade Rumors: Ravens Are “Running Out of Time”
With Allen’s deal out there, Jackson has every right to demand a contract that’s more significant than before. Despite being 29-years-old and possibly the Super Bowl window closing, the Ravens fired John Harbaugh this offseason to bring this team into the winning column. It’ll be interesting to see how far Baltimore can go with new head coach Jesse Minter this campaign.
A Trade is Indeed Realistic?
As of this posting, nobody should anticipate anytime soon unless requested by Lamar Jackson. The veteran requested it several years ago during his first contract negotiations. Jackson would later sign a new deal and stay with the team. The longer the Ravens wait this year, the riskier it gets.
Baltimore has completely overhauled their roster this offseason at some capacity, signing Trey Hendrickson and drafting Ja’Kobi Lane to upgrade it’s pass-offense. What this means is that Jackson doesn’t have any excuse to miss the divisional round, but that won’t mean it would be entirely his fault.
Lamar Jackson has the Leverage
During the 2025 season, the Ravens entered the campaign with high chances of competing for a Super Bowl. Unfortunately, the pass game lacked between Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and DeAndre Hopkins for the most part. This is why the team decided to let Hopkins walk in free agency. If there are still some issues on offense, Jackson could be open to starting fresh elsewhere or at least teasing a trade request.
Will he do it this year? Probably not. However, Lamar Jackson has one of the greatest arms and has elite athleticism, and if Minter isn’t the right system for him, it might be time to part ways. It’s why they fired Harbaugh to see the full picture of Jackson’s potential as a true MVP QB.
For now, the veteran is safe. If the Ravens offer at least a contract that meets Jackson’s demands now, there shouldn’t be any worry. Organized team activities are around the corner, so anything can unfold in the next few days. Keep your eyes peeled.