If you still think Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is just a "running back playing quarterback," you aren’t just behind the times—you’re basically watching a different sport. Honestly, that narrative should have died in 2019. It definitely should have stayed buried after he picked up his second MVP in 2023. But here we are in 2026, and people still talk about him like he’s a gimmick that the league is eventually going to "solve."
The reality is much more complicated. And way more impressive.
We just finished the 2025 season, and the conversation around Lamar has shifted from "can he throw?" to "how long can his body take this?" It’s a fair question. This past year was a rollercoaster. He turned 29 a couple of weeks ago, and while he’s still the most electric player on any given Sunday, the injury report has become a frequent home for his name. He dealt with a hamstring issue, a back contusion, and those nagging ankle and toe problems that sort of limited that "video game" mobility we’ve all grown used to.
The 2024 Statistical Explosion
Most fans point to his 2019 season as his peak, but statistically, 2024 was actually his masterpiece. He threw for a career-high 4,172 yards and 41 touchdowns. He only had four interceptions. Read that again. Four. For a guy who supposedly "struggles with accuracy," he finished that year with a 119.6 passer rating. That isn't just "good for a mobile guy." That is elite by any metric in NFL history.
He also joined Michael Vick as the only quarterbacks to cross the 6,000 career rushing yards mark. It happened in Week 15 against the Giants. He had five passing touchdowns and 65 yards on the ground in that game alone.
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The way he manipulates coverages now is different. He used to just outrun everyone. Now, he’s dissecting Cover 3 and Cover 6 shells like a ten-year pocket veteran. Pro Football Focus actually rated him as the best passer in the league against those specific deep zone looks last season. He’s evolved.
Why the $74.5 Million Cap Hit is a Problem
The business side of being the Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is getting messy again. He’s currently playing on that massive five-year, $260 million deal he signed back in 2023. But here is the kicker: for the 2026 and 2027 seasons, his salary cap hit jumps to **$74.5 million**.
That is roughly 25% of the Ravens' entire budget.
No team has ever won a Super Bowl with one player taking up that much space. For context, the previous record for a cap hit was Dak Prescott at about $50 million. Lamar is scheduled to blow past that by nearly 50%. Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti and GM Eric DeCosta are already making noise about an extension. They need to "lower the number" to keep guys like Zay Flowers and Kyle Hamilton around.
If an extension doesn’t happen by March, things could get weird. There are already whispers—mostly from pundits like Mike Preston—that the Ravens might actually consider a trade if the numbers don't work. The Raiders and Dolphins are the names that keep popping up in the rumor mill. It sounds crazy to trade a two-time MVP, but the NFL is a cold business.
The Playoff Elephant in the Room
We have to talk about the postseason. It’s the one area where the "haters" actually have some ground to stand on. Entering 2024, Lamar had a 1-3 playoff record. He fixed some of that by blowing out the Texans in the 2023-2024 divisional round, becoming the first player ever to have two passing TDs, two rushing TDs, 100 yards rushing, and a 100+ passer rating in a single playoff game.
But the 2024-2025 run ended in disappointment again, losing a tight one to the Bills.
He’s 29 now. The window is still open, but it’s not wide open forever. The Ravens' offensive coordinator, Todd Monken, has given Lamar more freedom than he ever had under Greg Roman, letting him change plays and protections at the line. You can see the maturity. He’s a leader now, not just a talent. Marlon Humphrey has talked about how Lamar "locked in" and became a more vocal presence in the locker room.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that Lamar is "fragile."
Yes, he’s missed time. He missed four games this past year. But look at his workload. He has nearly 1,100 career carries. That’s more than some starting running backs who entered the league the same year he did. He’s taken 225 sacks. The fact that he is still performing at an MVP level is a miracle of modern sports science and sheer toughness.
People also claim he can't win from the pocket. That's just objectively false. In 2024, he led the league in red-zone passing efficiency. The Ravens scored on 74.2% of their red-zone trips because Lamar has developed a touch on his passes that he simply didn't have as a rookie. He isn't just "fast." He's a technician.
What Happens Next?
If you're a Ravens fan or just someone following the league, there are three things to watch over the next few months:
- The Contract Restructure: Watch for a "dummy" extension or a massive signing bonus (likely around $85 million) to spread that $74.5 million cap hit out. If this doesn't happen by the start of free agency in March, the Ravens won't be able to sign any big-name help.
- The 2026 Draft: Don't be shocked if the Ravens take a quarterback in the middle rounds. Not to replace Lamar today, but to have a "Jordan Love" style insurance policy. With his injury history, they need a backup who can actually run the offense, not just a veteran holding a clipboard.
- The Physical Evolution: Expect Lamar to slim down or change his playstyle even more this coming season. He’s already started sliding more and throwing away balls he used to try and "hero" out of.
Lamar Jackson has already changed the way the NFL looks at the quarterback position. He forced every defensive coordinator in the league to rewrite their playbook. Now, he has to prove he can outlast the physical toll of his own greatness.
Next Steps for You:
If you're tracking his value for a dynasty league or just want to see how the Ravens manage the cap, keep an eye on the "void years" in his upcoming contract adjustment. This will tell you exactly how long the Ravens expect his peak to last. You can also monitor the NFL's official transaction wire in late February, which is when the "restructure" window usually hits its peak.