OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Lamar Jackson’s return from an ankle injury will undoubtedly improve the Baltimore Ravens in 2022.
An extension of the former NFL MVP’s contract would provide the Ravens a chance to make themselves even better.
The lack of a new deal with Jackson limits what Baltimore can do in free agency, which officially begins on Wednesday. Signing Jackson to a long-term contract can spread out his salary-cap hit and create between $8 million to $12 million in additional cap space that the Ravens can spend immediately.
This is a different offseason for Baltimore because it’s the first when Jackson counts more than $2 million against the cap, the result of him being on the fifth-year option of his rookie deal. At the end of the season, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said the team was comfortable with carrying Jackson’s $23.016 million salary, which accounts for 11% of Baltimore’s cap, in 2022 if the sides fail to reach a new agreement.
"We’ll have an ability to make some moves [in free agency]. We can certainly take on that amount,” DeCosta said last month. "Based on who Lamar is and what he has to offer, that’s not a huge ticket for a quarterback of that ability and of that personality and what he brings to the table for the team.”
DeCosta is right that Jackson’s increased salary isn’t a devastating blow when you consider the big picture. Jackson’s cap hit ranks 11th among quarterbacks this year and represents less than half of Matt Ryan’s cap figure ($48 million).
Barring a major surprise, the Ravens won’t come close to reducing Jackson’s cap number before free agency. DeCosta has made it clear this offseason that Baltimore is open to getting a deal done, but Jackson, who is representing himself, has shown no interest in negotiating right now. If the Ravens aren’t offering a record-setting deal, it’s certainly Jackson’s right to see how the quarterback market unfolds, especially with Aaron Rodgers set to sign a new deal.
But, without an extension with Jackson, the Ravens won’t have much to spend in free agency. Baltimore has around $16 million in cap space right now, and it still has to set aside cap room to sign draft picks (approximately $10 million) and a practice squad ($3 million). Another way to create more cap space is restructuring the contracts of cornerback Marlon Humphrey and guard Kevin Zeitler and trading wide receiver Miles Boykin, although none of these would provide the same cap relief as extending Jackson.
All of this means the Ravens will likely be restricted to signing a couple of moderately priced free agents and keeping a few of their own.
"I think we’ll have enough salary cap room to do everything we need to do, to do responsible, good deals that work for the club but also work for the player,” DeCosta said. "We’ve never been a big, huge free-agency team. We’ve dabbled in it a little bit. We’ll continue to look for players that benefit the club in different ways, certainly. Right player, right price, as always.”
Which of their own free agents will get re-signed?
This is typically the worst part of the NFL offseason calendar for Ravens fans, because they watch a lot of their homegrown talent get swooped away by other teams, and this year probably won’t be much different. Center Bradley Bozeman and fullback Patrick Ricard are expected to sign elsewhere, and Baltimore will likely get compensatory picks in 2023 in return. Nose tackle Brandon Williams and cornerback Anthony Averett are also likely gone.
The Ravens should have a good chance at retaining defensive end Calais Campbell, as long as they aren’t severely outbid, and the six-time Pro Bowl player still believes he can win a Super Bowl with them. It wouldn’t be a surprise if outside linebacker Justin Houston came back for another season. The others projected to return are inside linebacker Chris Board, tight end Eric Tomlinson and offensive tackle David Sharpe.
What shouldn’t be forgotten is the work the Ravens did before free agency. Baltimore proactively signed two Pro Bowl players (Humphrey in October 2020 and tight end Mark Andrews five months ago) to extensions, keeping them from becoming free agents this year. If the Ravens had re-signed them now instead of months ago, wouldn’t this already be considered a successful offseason?
Who are potential free-agent targets?
Middle linebacker Bobby Wagner, who was released by the Seattle Seahawks, is exactly the type of player that the Ravens love to sign. He’s extremely productive, a high-character leader and a salary-cap cut, which means he wouldn’t negate a compensatory pick. Even though there are holes at offensive line and pass-rusher, Wagner instantly becomes the leader for a defense in flux and fills the underrated need at middle linebacker (former first-round pick Patrick Queen has moved to the weak side).
The Ravens are the masters of accruing conditional picks for losing unrestricted free agents, totaling an NFL-best 53. That’s why Baltimore prefers to sign players who’ve been cut over those whose contact expires. Other free agents who wouldn’t negate comp picks are: Patriots offensive tackle Trent Brown, Cardinals middle linebacker Jordan Hicks and Lions outside linebacker Trey Flowers. Another intriguing possibility is center JC Tretter if he gets cut by the Cleveland Browns.
When it comes to unrestricted free agents (players whose contract expires), it’s best to temper expectations. History says the prospects of the Ravens signing safety Tyrann Mathieu and outside linebacker Chandler Jones are highly unlikely. Over the last six years, only one of nine unrestricted free agents signed in March by Baltimore received a contract worth more than $9 million per season.
Instead, it’s more realistic that the Ravens bring in unrestricted free agents like Jets safety Marcus Maye and Buccaneers outside linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul, because they could possibly get signed after the draft and not count against Baltimore’s com picks. It’s what the Ravens did with Houston and offensive tackle Alejandro Villanueva last year.
"I am confident that we’ll have the resources to sign our own guys back, or, if we see very good value in [the] free agency market, to maybe target somebody, knowing, as you guys know, that we’ll also factor in comp picks along the way,” DeCosta said.
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