Lamar Jackson is looking at an $83.4 million salary cap number in 2027, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter is straight-up saying it’s “untenable” for the Ravens. That’s a cap hit you just can’t carry if you want to build a decent roster around him, which means something *has* to give. But here’s the kicker: Jackson’s got a no-trade clause and a no-tag clause in his current deal. Schefter wasn’t mincing words, he said Jackson “has the power of an NBA player in the NFL and he’s gonna be able to dictate what he wants.” Yikes.
Jackson Wants to Stay, But the Deal’s Not Even Close
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Jackson “very strongly” wants to stay in Baltimore, even though “other reasons” kept an extension from happening before this 2026 season. So, the desire is there from the MVP. But Schefter’s reporting paints a much murkier picture. His sense is Jackson *wants* to be there, but a deal hasn’t gotten done, or even close to being done. It’s not just a big number, either, his cap hit in 2027 is actually $84.3 million before he even hits free agency in 2028. The Ravens could ease that pain by locking him into an extension, but Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer already reported that Jackson “balked” at contract discussions when Baltimore tried to negotiate early in the 2026 offseason. That’s a huge red flag when you’ve got a guy with that kind of leverage.
Injury Adds Even More Questions to a Murky Future
If the contract situation wasn’t enough drama, Jackson’s 2026 season outlook just got super murky after he suffered a thumb injury during the Ravens’ brutal 36-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. This guy’s a two-time MVP, one of the best QBs in the league when he’s healthy, but this is now the fourth time since 2021 he’s missed multiple games. You gotta wonder if that’s playing into the contract talks. Before the injury, he was looking good this year: completing 70.1 percent of his passes for 967 yards, throwing six touchdowns to just one interception, and adding 144 rushing yards with another score. But now? We’re all just waiting to see what happens next with that thumb.
This whole situation is a high-stakes poker game, and Jackson’s holding all the cards. For the Ravens, they need to figure this out, and fast, or they’re going to be looking at some serious roster headaches in 2027. Meanwhile, it was a rough Sunday for us in the Emerald City too, with our Seahawks taking a tough 34-17 loss to the Chicago Bears. Ugh. Fingers crossed for better news all around as we head into next week.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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