Ravens backed themselves into a corner with Lamar Jackson

Lamar Jackson is giving new Baltimore Ravens head coach Jesse Minter a vote of confidence by showing up for the voluntary phase of team workouts, something he had been reluctant to do in the past.

That should let the team know that he wants to be there for the long run, and it's a solid first step toward finally getting a new contract extension. However, as one general manager told NFL insider Jason La Canfora, the Ravens may no longer have any leverage in this situation.

By unilaterally reworking his contract earlier in the offseason, they've backed themselves into a corner with a massive cap hit in 2027, and the only way to get out of that financial constraint is by giving him even more money and more years.  

The Ravens are in a tough spot with Lamar Jackson

"The cap number for 2027 – his last real year – is $85M and the only way to get that lower is to get a real extension done," one GM told La Canfora. "But what motivation does he have now, unless you give him whatever he wants? And if you were going to give him what he wants, why didn’t you do that by now?"

The Ravens will now essentially have to cave in and give Jackson whatever he wants to put pen to paper. Otherwise, he can walk away in free agency, and they'd be stuck with a massive dead cap hit anyway.

"With the no-trade clause, and the no-franchise-or-transition clause, they’ve given away every ounce of leverage possible to get him extended," the executive added. "What they’ve done really takes away any bit of leverage they might have had, and it actually makes him easier to trade."

Jackson is one of the most talented and impactful dual-threat quarterbacks in NFL history, so being "stuck" with him for the long run isn't bad news at all. That said, the power dynamic has shifted against the organization, and that's not always healthy. Moreover, with a history of injuries and no postseason success, the Ravens would've probably preferred to keep their options open.