Ravens GM Eric DeCosta shares eye-raising update about potential Lamar Jackson extension

On Wednesday, NFL insider Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom revealed that he heard that Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta was "having trouble getting" quarterback Lamar Jackson "to answer his phone and" work out a contract extension with the club. 

Later in the day, it was reported that the Ravens had restructured Jackson's contract to create about $40M in salary-cap space. While speaking with reporters during a Wednesday news conference, DeCosta was asked about conversations he has or hasn't had with Jackson during the offseason. 

Ravens only "hopeful" Lamar Jackson will sign an extension?

"We kind of ran out of time, and we were able to free up, I think, just under [$40M] this year [and] added a void year to 2030, I believe," DeCosta said about reworking Jackson's deal instead of signing the two-time MVP to an extension, per the Ravens' website. "I am certainly hopeful that we'll get an extension done. I think it's important to both parties, but we remain to see what's going to take place in the future."

The "certainly hopeful" line could lead one to believe that the Ravens and Jackson aren't all that close to inking an extension. Per the terms of the five-year contract reportedly worth up to $260M (with $185M guaranteed) that Jackson signed in 2023, the Ravens cannot retain his rights after the 2027 season via the franchise tag. Baltimore also didn't need Jackson's permission to rework his existing deal. 

On Wednesday, DeCosta insisted that restructuring Jackson's contract shouldn't change "the dynamic" regarding extension talks between the two sides. 

"I've said this a million times; Lamar and I, we're not going to talk about the negotiation aspect of our relationship, so I'm going to stand by that," DeCosta added. 

Is Lamar Jackson saying anything by remaining silent? 

As Jonas Shaffer shared for The Baltimore Banner, Jackson hasn’t spoken publicly since his duties related to the 2025 season wrapped up and since the new Ravens' coaching staff made it clear they would like players to participate in voluntary offseason workouts later this spring. One wonders if Jackson is saying anything about his current relationship with the Ravens by saying nothing through the winter.