Ravens in "introductory stage" of Lamar Jackson extension talks, says GM Eric DeCosta

The Baltimore Ravens have been busy locking down key pieces this offseason. After inking Derrick Henry to a fresh deal and extending wideout Rashod Bateman earlier this week, it sounds like even bigger news could be on the horizon.

Head coach John Harbaugh had previously hinted in March that the team was internally discussing a new contract for Lamar Jackson. Now, those talks have moved beyond closed doors. General Manager Eric DeCosta, speaking on the BMore Baseball Podcast, confirmed that extension negotiations with the star quarterback are officially underway—though he emphasized they're still in the early stages.

Ravens GM Eric DeCosta recently opened up on the BMore Baseball Podcast, revealing that the team has started laying the groundwork for a potential new deal with their franchise quarterback, Lamar Jackson.

"We've had some conversations before the draft, after the draft, in person last week," DeCosta said. "I think we're in the introductory sort of stage of looking at what an extension might look like."

"We've got a lot of business that we're conducting with different players. We're in a situation where we're blessed to have most of the team coming back," DeCosta added. "But as we look out over the next two, three, four, five years, we're trying to keep as many good players as we can."

Jackson, a two-time MVP, signed a blockbuster five-year, $260 million extension with Baltimore in 2023, bringing an end to a grueling two-year negotiation process that DeCosta previously called "arduous at best" and "challenging at times." At the time, Jackson reset the market as the highest-paid quarterback in terms of AAV. Fast forward to now, and he’s slipped to 10th in average annual value and sits seventh in total contract worth.

Though Jackson still has three seasons left on that deal, the timing may be right for a raise. From Baltimore’s perspective, securing their star long-term makes perfect sense as they look to maintain their status among the AFC elite.

And Jackson more than fits the bill. Coming off a sensational 2024 campaign, the dynamic dual-threat QB completed 66.7% of his passes for 4,172 yards, tossed 41 touchdowns against just four picks, and added 915 rushing yards with four scores on the ground, earning him a runner-up finish in the MVP race.

Here's some of the quick reaction from the NFL world on the news:

Coming off a strong 12-5 finish in 2024, Baltimore has its sights set on another deep postseason push—and possibly more. With most of the core returning, including Lamar Jackson playing at an MVP level and Derrick Henry powering the ground game, the Ravens look every bit like a contender to repeat as AFC North champs and make serious noise come playoff time. The pieces are all in place.