Baltimore Ravens May Draft Quarterback Replacement for Lamar Jackson in 2026

The Baltimore Ravens may evaluate drafting a successor to quarterback Lamar Jackson in the 2026 NFL Draft, as reported by Newsweek. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper speculated that 2026 could mark Jackson's final season with the team if performance under new head coach Jesse Minter and offensive coordinator Declan Doyle does not meet expectations.

This comes as the Ravens enter the 2024 season with their revamped coaching staff.

Colin Cowherd, on his Fox Sports show on Thursday, suggested the Ravens might select Jackson's replacement by 2027 due to the quarterback's salary cap hit rising from $34 million in 2024 to $84 million in 2027. Cowherd noted that seven of the top eight quarterback cap hits in the NFL missed the playoffs in the 2023 season.

He stated that such a high cap figure could limit the team's competitiveness.

“So seven of the top eight quarterback cap hits missed the playoffs last season," — Colin Cowherd (Newsweek) Jackson has earned two NFL Most Valuable Player awards, which recognize regular-season performance. However, his postseason record stands at 3-5. The Ravens avoided trading two first-round picks to the Las Vegas Raiders for defensive end Maxx Crosby during the 2024 offseason, preserving draft capital for potential use at quarterback.”

The team currently has 11 picks available in the April 2024 NFL Draft. These could be used to select a developmental quarterback from the 2024 draft class, who might compete for a backup role in 2024 and potentially start in 2027. Beyond Jackson, the Ravens' only other quarterback on the roster is Tyler Huntley.

contract structure includes escalating cap hits, reaching $84 million in 2027, which represents a significant portion of the NFL salary cap.