Ravens Willing to Make Lamar Jackson the Highest-Paid Player in NFL History, Report Says
The Baltimore Ravens are reportedly willing to make Lamar Jackson the highest-paid player in NFL history when the two sides return to the negotiating table. NFL on Prime reporter James Palmer reported on November 6 that the team plans to revisit extension talks with Jackson in the offseason and is prepared to pay him at the very top of the quarterback market. The report does not say a deal is done. It says the Ravens want one, and they are willing to set a new record to get it. The two sides do not negotiate during the season, so the talks would take place between the end of the season and the start of free agency in March 2027, when Jackson carries a salary cap hit of about 84 million dollars.
Quick Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Report | Palmer reported on November 6 that the Ravens plan to revisit extension talks and are willing to make Jackson the highest-paid player in NFL history |
| Player | Lamar Jackson, 29, two-time NFL MVP, quarterback of the Baltimore Ravens |
| 2027 cap hit | About 84 million dollars (84.34 million dollars) |
| Negotiation window | Between the end of the season and the start of free agency in March 2027 |
| Contract protection | No-trade clause and no-franchise-tag clause in his current deal |
| Free agency path | Could become a full free agent after the 2027 season at age 31 |
| Current injury | Right thumb injury on the first play against Buffalo, after missing three games with a high left ankle sprain |
| Games this season | Five appearances, including one snap in the 36-10 loss to Buffalo |
| Status | On injured reserve this week, out at least four games |
| Jackson on staying | Jackson said in May that he wants to stay, answering Absolutely |
What James Palmer Reported
James Palmer reported on November 6 that the Ravens intend to go back to the table with Jackson once the season ends. Palmer said the team is willing to make Jackson the highest-paid player in NFL history, ahead of every quarterback contract signed so far. He also said the Ravens have been trying for the last two years to get a long-term contract done, while restructuring the deal and pushing money into later years. That approach bought time, but it also built the enormous 2027 cap hit that now sits on the books.
This is a report about intent, not a completed agreement. No terms have been reported, and no length, guaranteed money, or signing date has been made public. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport said on November 4 that he believes very strongly Jackson wants to stay in Baltimore long term, and that signing him is the number one offseason priority. Jackson said the same thing in May, answering Absolutely when asked whether he wants to stay.
Why the 2027 Cap Number Forces the Issue
The number driving this story is the 2027 salary cap hit of about 84 million dollars. The salary cap limits what a team can spend on player salaries in a year, and one player taking about 84 million dollars of it would leave little room for the rest of the roster. ESPN reporter Adam Schefter has said the 84 million dollar cap number is untenable and the team cannot carry it while building the roster. A new extension would spread the money over more years, with the signing bonus spread across the life of the deal and the yearly cap hits becoming manageable.
The number came from restructuring Jackson’s contract instead of extending it. Because no extension was agreed in the offseason, the Ravens restructured the deal and freed about 39.96 million dollars in 2026 cap room. The money did not disappear. It moved into the future, and the future is now 2027, so a record deal still means less money for other positions and a front office that must draft well.
Jackson’s Leverage: No-Trade Clause and a Path to Free Agency
Jackson holds an unusually strong hand, and it comes from the contract he already signed. His deal includes a no-trade clause, so the Ravens cannot send him to another team without his agreement. It also includes a no-franchise-tag clause, so the team cannot use the franchise tag to keep him for one more year at a set salary. When a player cannot be traded or tagged, the only way to keep him is to pay him what he is worth on the open market, or something close to it.
If no new deal is agreed, Jackson could become a full free agent after the 2027 season at age 31. A 31-year-old two-time MVP hitting the open market would be one of the biggest events in modern NFL history. Sports Illustrated reporter Albert Breer previously reported that the Ravens wanted to negotiate an extension after new head coach Jesse Minter got the job, but Jackson balked. The talks have stalled before, but the 2027 cap number turns a negotiation that could drift into one that has to be finished.
The Injury and the Season So Far
Jackson injured his right thumb on the first play of Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills. He had already missed the previous three games with a high left ankle sprain, so the thumb injury landed on a player who was just getting back. He played only one snap in the 36-10 loss to Buffalo, and the Ravens placed him on injured reserve this week. That means he will miss at least four games, and he has now appeared in just five games this season.
The Ravens have already had to turn to backup quarterbacks this season, and the depth chart has been tested again and again. Readers can follow the latest in our report on the Ravens placing Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley on injured reserve with Joe Fagnano starting, which lays out who is available while Jackson recovers. The team has also had rough nights, including the Jaguars beating the Ravens 33-10 on Thursday Night Football on November 5. The running game has been one bright spot, as our coverage of Derrick Henry moving to seventh on the all-time rushing list past LaDainian Tomlinson on November 5 shows. Injuries do not erase two MVP awards.
What Has to Happen Before March 2027
The two sides do not negotiate during the NFL season, so no deal will be announced in the middle of the year. The talks would take place between the end of the season and the start of free agency in March 2027, a short window every team uses to sign its own free agents. Jackson’s camp will want as much guaranteed money as possible, because that is the money a player keeps even if he is hurt or cut. The team will want a structure that keeps the yearly cap hits low enough to build a roster.
Jackson will spend the next several weeks recovering, and the team will want to see him healthy before it commits record money. That is a normal step in the process, not a reason to doubt the player. If the talks fail a third time, the 2027 cap number becomes a live problem, and the path to free agency after the 2027 season becomes real. The report suggests the Ravens are willing to pay what it takes, and whether the offer is enough will be the story of the offseason.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the Ravens really going to make Lamar Jackson the highest-paid player in NFL history?
That is what has been reported, not what has been signed. James Palmer reported on November 6 that the Ravens plan to revisit extension talks and are willing to make Jackson the highest-paid player in NFL history. No terms have been reported, and no deal has been announced.
Why does Jackson have a cap hit of about 84 million dollars in 2027?
The large cap hit came from restructuring his contract instead of extending it. Because no extension was agreed in the offseason, the Ravens restructured the deal and freed about 39.96 million dollars in 2026 cap room. The money pushed forward now counts in 2027.
Can the Ravens trade Jackson or use the franchise tag on him?
No, not under his current contract. Jackson has a no-trade clause, so the team cannot trade him without his agreement. He also has a no-franchise-tag clause, so the team cannot tag him for another year. He could become a free agent after the 2027 season at age 31.
When will the contract talks actually happen?
The two sides do not negotiate during the NFL season. The talks would take place between the end of the season and the start of free agency in March 2027. That is when the team must turn its reported willingness into a signed agreement.
Sources
- Bleacher Report: New Lamar Jackson Rumors Reveal Ravens Are Willing to Give QB Largest Contract in NFL History
- NBC Sports: Ravens Willing to Make Jackson Highest-Paid Player
- Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson, Ian Rapoport on Baltimore Long-Term Future
Final Thoughts
The report from James Palmer is simple to understand and hard to overstate. The Ravens want Lamar Jackson for the long term, and they are reportedly willing to make him the highest-paid player in NFL history to keep him. The player wants to stay, and the team wants to pay him. The obstacle is the same one that has been there for two years: turning that shared wish into a signed contract with numbers both sides can live with.
The 2027 cap hit of about 84 million dollars makes this offseason different from the last two. It is no longer a negotiation that can be put off with another restructure. For now, the story is a report, not a result, and the talks will wait until the season ends. The Ravens have reportedly said they are ready to pay the record price, and the offseason will show whether that readiness is enough.
