General Manager Eric DeCosta said there have been "ongoing" discussions with quarterback Lamar Jackson about a potential contract extension, but he declined to offer specifics.
"I like to work kind of in the dark, quietly, and try to get as much done as we can," DeCosta said Wednesday after announcing a [four-year extension with Kyle Hamilton](https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/kyle-hamilton-contract-extension-ravens-sign-2025) that made him the NFL's highest-paid safety.
"We've got a lot of different things going on, we've got a lot of really good players. We've got players that deserve to be paid well and we're trying to keep those guys, knowing that, as I've said 1,000 times, you can't keep everybody."
Jackson is signed through the 2027 season and has a salary-cap hit of $43.5 million in 2025, [according to overthecap.com](https://overthecap.com/player/lamar-jackson/6917). But that cap hit would jump to $74.5 million in 2026 and '27.
Extending Jackson further would help frame the salary cap outlook as DeCosta and Vice President of Football Administration Nick Matteo work on short-term and long-term plans. But DeCosta reiterated his discussions with Jackson would remain private.
"I appreciate the question, but it's good to kind of keep these things with the players," DeCosta said. "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."
With Hamilton re-signed, other pending free agents following the 2025 season include tight ends Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, and Charlie Kolar; center Tyler Linderbaum; outside linebackers Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh; fullback Patrick Ricard; wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins; cornerback Jaire Alexander, defensive lineman Travis Jones and right guard Daniel Faalele.
DeCosta acknowledged it will be difficult to re-sign all of them. He referenced the 2019 offseason when the Ravens lost Terrell Suggs, C.J. Mosley, and Eric Weddle during free agency.
"Unfortunately, we're going to see some good players, probably in the next couple of years play for other teams," DeCosta said. "We've seen that. That's going to be something that continues. Back in 2019, we really kind of said we were going to try to keep as much of our talent as we could. We've tried to do that, but we are in a salary cap league. That's the reality. We'll try to get as creative as possible."
Getting Hamilton's deal finalized checked an extremely important box moving forward. DeCosta said the Ravens would continue working to maintain a roster that can compete for Super Bowls. The intent is to keep their window to compete for championships wide open.
"Being a GM on a closed-window team gives me anxiety," DeCosta said. "I don't want to be that GM. We have opportunities to sign more players, and we'll try and do that. It's just a matter of: Who can we get a deal done with?
"At some point we're going to probably have to recalibrate and say, 'We've got to nail these draft picks. We need these younger players to really be good because we can't sign every single guy back.'"