Agent's Take: What's next between Lamar Jackson, Ravens after yet another injury - CBS Sports
By Google News Sports ·
Lamar Jackson's return against the Buffalo Bills from a three-game absence after a high ankle sprain was very short-lived -- one offensive play, to be exact.
The Baltimore Ravens quarterback injured his thumb in Sunday's 36-10 loss to the Bills when his right hand hit edge rusher Greg Rousseau on the follow-through of a pass attempt. Jackson is out indefinitely after being placed on injured reserve as his right thumb requires surgery.
The potential season-ending thumb injury raises questions about Jackson's future in Baltimore. Jackson is in the fourth year of a five-year deal that made him the NFL's highest-paid player at the time, with $52 million per year after being designated as a non-exclusive franchise player. During the 2027 contract year, Jackson is scheduled to earn an unsecured $52 million, consisting of a $51.25 million base salary and a $750,000 workout bonus. His salary cap number is $84.34 million.
More importantly, Jackson's contract contains a no-trade clause and another provision preventing the Ravens from designating him as a franchise or transition player when his contract expires following the 2027 season.
The $84.34 million cap hit is untenable. It is 2027's second-highest number behind Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes' $90.35 million, which will surely be lowered through a contract restructure. The Ravens have an NFL-high $366.74 million in 2027 cap commitments with 45 players under contract and a little less than $1.4 million in existing 2026 cap space that can be carried over to the 2027 league year, according to NFLPA data. The salary cap for 2027 should be between $322.5 million and $327.5 million, considering comparable growth after a 7.88% increase between 2025 and 2026.
So, where does Jackson's contract currently stand…
Originally published by Google News Sports
