The Ravens have said all the right things about wanting Lamar Jackson around and the price just went up thanks to the Bucs. Baker Mayfield’s new contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers provides another reminder that the Baltimore Ravens eventually will have to deliver a Brinks truck to their two time MVP quarterback.
On Tuesday, Mayfield reportedly agreed to a three-year, $165 million extension shortly before the start of the regular season. The $55 million annual average places him in the same salary tier as Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Jordan Love, Trevor Lawrence and Matthew Stafford. Jackson now ranks 11th among NFL quarterbacks with a $52 million annual average, according to Over the Cap. He signed a five-year, $260 million contract with Baltimore
in 2023 that included $185 million in total guarantees and $135 million fully guaranteed.
It’s a 3-year, $165M deal for Baker Mayfield. That comes in at $55M per year. https://t.co/WP925JWhFs
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 8, 2026
That agreement briefly made Jackson the league’s highest-paid player. It has since been passed by several quarterbacks, including players who cannot match his individual résumé. Jackson is a two-time NFL MVP and the centerpiece of everything Baltimore does offensively. Mayfield’s deal does not automatically determine Jackson’s next salary, but it establishes a new floor in any future discussions between the quarterback and the Ravens.
Baltimore also has practical reasons to address Jackson’s contract before reaching its final stages. An extension could reward the franchise quarterback while providing an opportunity to manage future salary-cap charges and create additional flexibility.Mayfield’s agreement illustrates how quickly quarterback contracts become outdated. Jackson’s $52 million average was record-setting three years ago. It now sits below 10 other quarterbacks.
The longer Baltimore waits, the more expensive another Jackson extension could become. Every new quarterback deal gives Jackson’s representatives additional evidence that his next contract should return him to the top of the market.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: How Baker Mayfield's $165M contract extension impacts Lamar Jackson
