Lamar Jackson is once again in the spotlight as the Ravens gear up for a pivotal offseason. His growth as a quarterback and leader is shaping the team's strategy, influencing everything from the search for a new head coach to the flexibility in free agency that general manager Eric DeCosta can muster.
With a new coach, Jesse Minter, at the helm, Jackson's contract situation is expected to evolve soon, whether through an extension or a cap-friendly restructure. This offseason, he'll also be tasked with mastering a new offensive scheme.
Jackson's approach to offseason workouts could be crucial at this juncture for the Ravens. Historically, he's opted out of some organized team activities (OTAs), a choice allowed by the players' collective bargaining agreement, before joining mandatory minicamp in June. However, first-year offensive coordinator Declan Doyle has set clear expectations for player participation.
“We would expect them to be here, and certainly it is voluntary,” Doyle stated during an introductory press conference alongside Minter, defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, and special teams coordinator Anthony Levine Sr. “But if you want to claim championship standards and aspirations, it requires work, collaboration, and building relationships with coaches and teammates to start this new era on the right foot.”
Jackson's absence from most OTAs in the 2024 and 2025 offseasons cost him $1.5 million in bonuses, as stipulated in his five-year, $260 million contract signed in 2023. To earn bonuses in the upcoming offseasons, he must attend 80% of the Ravens’ workouts.
Other key players, like defensive lineman Nnamdi Madubuike and safety Kyle Hamilton, also missed OTAs last season, but Jackson's practice attendance has drawn more attention due to injuries that limited his play in the latter part of last season. He faced challenges with accuracy, ended with a career-high sack rate of 10.7%, and rushed for a career-low 349 yards.
Doyle emphasized that the Ravens' staff is in the "early stages" of reconstructing the offense to suit their personnel, focusing on three "nonnegotiable" principles: being physical, detailed, and explosive.
Despite a disappointing 2025 season, the Ravens are entering free agency as one of the AFC’s top contenders for the Super Bowl. There's significant work ahead, and Doyle expressed a desire to engage with players directly during the offseason. The goal is to make improvements so that when training camp begins, the team can hit the ground running with a shared understanding and language, ready to tackle the new season head-on.