Top star QB, already one of the most dynamic and accomplished quarterbacks in the NFL, may soon reset the market once again when the Baltimore Ravens look to extend him. According to CBS Sports’ Joel Corry, he could eclipse the current record-setting annual salary of $60 million held by Dak Prescott — who signed a four-year, $240 million deal with the Dallas Cowboys in September 2024.
He is under contract through the 2027 season after signing a five-year, $260 million extension in 2023, which at the time made him the league’s highest-paid player in terms of average annual value. However, as quarterback salaries continue to rise with each new deal — particularly with the upcoming extensions expected for players like C.J. Stroud, Jordan Love, and Trevor Lawrence — his current contract may soon be considered under market value.
Given Jackson’s two MVPs (2019, 2023), consistent playoff appearances, and his ever-evolving dual-threat game, the Ravens may look to lock him up long term again with a restructured or extended deal. If he continues his current trajectory, an annual salary north of $65 million wouldn’t be out of the question — especially with rising salary caps and TV revenue pushing quarterback deals to new heights.
Joel Corry’s point underscores a crucial reality of modern NFL contract negotiations: elite quarterbacks’ deals are increasingly tied to the salary cap percentage rather than flat dollar amounts.
Corry wrote:
“Jackson should also make it clear to the Ravens that by waiting until next year to do a deal, the growth in the salary cap from 2025 to 2026 will need to be taken into account. For example, if the 2026 salary cap is set at $302.5 million, then the deal would have to be at $70 million per year because that would reflect the 34.56% salary cap inflation from 2023.”
Here’s the logic:
- Jackson’s 2023 deal averaged $52 million per year, when the cap was around $224.8 million.
- A $70 million annual salary on a projected $302.5 million cap in 2026 would mirror the same cap percentage — roughly 23.1% — ensuring his value scales with the league’s financial growth.
If the Ravens delay a new extension until after the 2025 season, Jackson and his agent will likely demand a deal that accounts for that rising cap. And if his play remains elite — or improves — they’ll have all the leverage.
This is why it’s possible we could see Jackson command a deal in the $68–72 million per year range if he signs in 2026, setting a new standard for elite quarterback compensation.
Although \$70 million per year sounds like a hefty price tag — and it certainly is — few players are more deserving of such a deal than the Ravens’ star quarterback.
Lamar Jackson wrapped up last season with 4,172 passing yards and 41 touchdowns, throwing only four interceptions. He also made a major impact on the ground, rushing for 915 yards and adding four more touchdowns with his legs.