Barnwell Flags Lamar Jackson, Roquan Smith for Market-Resetting Ravens Deals After Mahomes' $500 Million Pact
Updated
Updated · Heavy.com · Jun 11
Barnwell Flags Lamar Jackson, Roquan Smith for Market-Resetting Ravens Deals After Mahomes' $500 Million Pact
1 articles · Updated · Heavy.com · Jun 11
Summary
ESPN analyst Bill Barnwell named Ravens stars Lamar Jackson and Roquan Smith as leading candidates for market-resetting NFL extensions after Patrick Mahomes signed the league’s first contract worth more than $500 million.
Jackson is already on a five-year, $260 million deal, but Barnwell argued his case has strengthened after a second MVP, a near-third, 0.11 EPA per dropback, and 2,085 rushing yards with 11 touchdowns since signing.
His 2024 season added to that push: 4,172 passing yards, 41 touchdowns and four interceptions, though postseason results remain the main gap in an otherwise elite resume.
Smith, meanwhile, has built his own leverage with three straight First-Team All-Pro selections from 2022 to 2024 after arriving in Baltimore via a 2022 trade and signing a $20 million-per-year contract.
The picks reflect a broader NFL extension wave that has recently lifted players such as Drake London, Jack Campbell, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Trent McDuffie to new pay benchmarks at their positions.