Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is keeping his wallet closed—at least when it comes to discussing his contract. The two-time MVP told reporters at training camp Monday that he won't share any details about offseason negotiations with general manager Eric DeCosta, doubling down on his long-standing policy of keeping business behind closed doors.
“I will keep it the same way I have been keeping it,” Jackson said. “It’s private between me and the G.M.”
Jackson signed a five-year, $260 million deal in 2023 that made him the NFL's highest-paid player at the time. But the market has shifted dramatically since then. His $52 million average annual salary now ranks 11th among quarterbacks, and Patrick Mahomes recently reworked his contract to push his average north of $64 million. The 29-year-old signal-caller could be due for a significant raise, but he's not letting fans—or reporters—in on the conversation.
Jackson, who represents himself without an agent, has a history of halting contract talks once the season starts. He indicated that pattern could continue as he enters his ninth year in Baltimore.
“Yes, I’m focused on football, like I’ve always been,” Jackson said.
Chasing a Super Bowl
Jackson more than justified his current deal by winning his second MVP award in 2023. He played even better the following season, posting career highs with 4,172 passing yards, 41 touchdown passes, and a 119.6 passer rating. But a disappointing 2025 campaign, marred by injuries, ended with the Ravens missing the playoffs—a bitter pill for a player who has yet to reach a Super Bowl.
The urgency to change that is growing, Jackson admitted.
“Absolutely, it does,” he said. “Each and every year I am getting older and not younger, so of course it increases—but it starts now.”
Jackson believes his game is still evolving. He feels sharper mentally and more experienced against any defensive look. The only variable, he says, is learning a revamped offensive system under head coach Jesse Minter and offensive coordinator Declan Doyle.
“Each and every year you are getting older, your mind is getting sharper,” Jackson said. “Everything is slowing down even more. You’ve seen anything and everything a defense can bring at you. The only thing different now is just the new offense. So, once I get that down pat, I feel like there is no room for error with us. We’ll keep stacking.”
While the contract chatter will continue outside the building, Jackson is making it clear: his focus is on the field, not his bank account. For a franchise that hasn't won a Super Bowl since 2012, that single-mindedness might be exactly what Baltimore needs. Meanwhile, debates about Jackson's ranking relative to other quarterbacks rage on, but the man himself isn't biting.
