Kyle Goon: The best way for Lamar Jackson to protect himself next season is with a new contract now

Lamar Jackson the quarterback recognizes his openings in split seconds. He knows when it is time to tuck the ball and make a dash for the end zone.

As time ticks down toward the start of a new NFL league year, we’re left breathless with a question: Does Lamar Jackson the agent have the same sense of urgency?

The Ravens shook the league with a convention-breaking trade for Maxx Crosby, shipping out more draft value than they ever have for a veteran player.

But, as ever, Jackson holds the cards for this team’s future, occupying a healthy 24.55% of the salary cap next year. As wild as general manager Eric DeCosta might be getting this offseason, he needs Jackson’s help to unlock the most cap space he can get. Jackson’s sphinx-like posturing can be tough to read.

But the person who has the most to lose is Jackson. Although his leverage for a new deal is tremendous, the more time that slips by, the more it will cost him in free agency when it comes time to find guys to block for him.

No one will have more ability to help the Ravens overhaul their line than Jackson can by signing an extension and restructuring his deal — a win-win by any measure.

As of Sunday night, it was a little murky how close the Ravens and Jackson might be to a new contract, but the tea leaves are scattered in such a way that a new deal seems fairly likely.

It is hard to imagine DeCosta running out to add a $30.6 million player in Crosby, who puts the Ravens well over the cap, without assurances from Jackson that his cap hit is somewhat malleable. The re-signing of Tyler Huntley, Jackson’s close friend, also hints at Baltimore’s front office making deals with the tacit cooperation of its star quarterback.

The biggest questions left, however, are all about the offensive line.

That is headlined, of course, by Tyler Linderbaum. Whether he re-signs with the Ravens or hits a hungry free agent market, the Pro Bowl center seems destined to sign a record-setting deal for his position. The hour is starting to feel late for a Linderbaum extension — his potential departure from Baltimore would only add to the massive hole DeCosta needs to fill up front.

That’s where the cap relief Jackson can help provide could make a huge difference. There is a profound gulf between guards at the top of the market — Pittsburgh’s Isaac Seumalo and Buffalo’s David Edwards, for examples — or those in the very soft middle.

Pro Football Focus projects maligned guard Daniel Faalele to make $7 million annually, so the Ravens have to be prepared to spend more than that for an upgrade.

Bills quarterback Josh Allen (I know, I know, stop hissing at me) helped set a template for the kind of contract that could help Jackson and the Ravens.

In March 2025, Allen took a “discount” by not setting a league record with his new deal (right after his MVP season). He still could make up to $330 million over the six-year deal, and he averages $55 million annually (Jackson’s final two years average $52 million). Allen also got $250 million in guaranteed money (Jackson got $135 million guaranteed in his five-year deal).

The Ravens can technically restructure his existing contract without Jackson’s help, but it puts them deeper in the hole for future seasons, backloading their cap hits. It won’t help extend a competitive window that has been open for a few years.

If he is invested in building the best roster, Jackson can give himself a raise while giving Baltimore a proper shot at upgrading his supporting cast. DeCosta giving up not one but two first-rounders shows how deeply he’s invested in winning right now — Jackson can show the same level of commitment by negotiating his new deal before Wednesday.

Yes, there are ways Jackson can make more money. Yes, there are ways he can get better negotiating leverage. But after Wednesday he’ll never have a better opportunity at getting a more competitive team. If winning trumps all other concerns, there’s only one way forward.

Perhaps that deal is all but wrapped up already, known only to Jackson and the Ravens’ intelligentsia. DeCosta is certainly operating as if he’s got a little extra space to maneuver.

It’s exciting to imagine a world in which the Ravens can achieve all their goals: getting Jackson on a new deal, preventing Linderbaum from running out of town and keeping a high-talent core together for at least one more year.

But it’s also easy to imagine a scenario in which the Ravens can’t snag their best options, a task that becomes much more difficult if Jackson isn’t ready to play ball with the franchise. As much as that vision keeps anyone up at night, it should worry Jackson the most — and spur him into making his move as soon as possible.

The narrow lane he and the Ravens need to run through will only be open so long. Now is the time to go for the score.