Lamar Jackson is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and the face of the Baltimore Ravens. The 28-year-old could soon become the league’s highest-paid player.

Lamar Jackson is undoubtedly one of the elite players in the NFL right now, and there are several good arguments for calling the 28-year-old the best quarterback in the league at the moment. Especially after an absolutely outstanding 2024 season.

Long considered a mediocre passer, Jackson set personal bests in pass attempts (474), completions (316), passing yards (4,172), and passing touchdowns (41) last season, while throwing only four (!) interceptions.

The Baltimore Ravens star has silenced his critics, even though he is still chasing a deep playoff run. As a two-time MVP, he is nevertheless already one of the outstanding players in NFL history.

However, Jackson has slipped down the rankings of the league’s highest-paid quarterbacks. With an average salary of $52 million per year, he now ranks only tenth, which is due to the general trend in salaries.

NFL: Contract extension talks with Lamar Jackson

Jackson signed his last contract extension in 2023, and a lot has happened since then. The Ravens are aware of this, which is why there could soon be an adjustment to the contract. At least that’s what General Manager Eric DeCosta hinted at.

On the “BMore Baseball Podcast,” DeCosta explained that talks are already underway. “We had talks before the draft, after the draft, and in person last week,” he said. “I think we’re in the early stages of thinking about what an extension might look like.”

Head coach John Harbaugh already said on the sidelines of the latest NFL owners’ meeting that Jackson is likely to jump back to the top of the league with his contract. “When the market pays, he’ll be the highest-paid player in football, just like he was last time,” Harbaugh said.

QB record contract: Will Jackson replace Dak Prescott?

The current top earner in the NFL is quarterback Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys, who earns an average of $60 million per year. Jackson is currently under contract with the Ravens until the end of the 2027 season, and his cap hit in 2026 alone would be a staggering $74.5 million under the current contract structure.

This is another reason why a new contract would be advantageous for the Ravens, as it would allow them to spread the burden more evenly. “When we look at the next two, three, four, five years, we’re trying to keep as many good players as possible,” De Costa explained.

“We have a number of players who we believe have the potential to become really good players for us and stay here for a long time. We’re trying to sign as many of those players as possible. That’s a big challenge, and Lamar is certainly a big part of that,” he continued.