The Ravens’ cap mess is already pushing them toward some hard choices, and one of the league’s sharpest contract minds thinks a few familiar names could still be around in 2027.
Mark Levin, who spent roughly 25 years running the salary cap and agent administration department for the NFLPA and also served as the chief negotiator for the Washington Commanders, recently dug into Baltimore’s current and future cap picture. He’s now with Pro Football Consulting, and on “The Daily Flock” he laid out how he sees the Ravens handling several key contracts while trying to get under a 2027 cap projection that has them about $50M over.
The biggest issue remains Lamar Jackson. Baltimore is staring at a $75M dead cap on Jackson for 2027, and an $84M cap hit if he plays out the final year on his deal with all those poison pills. Levin, who was involved in Jackson’s last contract with the Ravens, said there’s every reason to be skeptical about Jackson’s future in Baltimore after this season.
But the quarterback isn’t the only major decision looming. Levin also weighed in on Roquan Smith, Ronnie Stanley, Derrick Henry, Mark Andrews and Rashod Bateman.
Smith is the clearest candidate for a reset. Levin’s view is blunt: Baltimore is unlikely to keep paying top-of-the-market money to a linebacker whose play has slipped.
Smith is due to count $13M against the cap either way, with a $20M savings available if the Ravens cut or trade him. The source notes that Smith has been in steep decline for years, that he’ll be 30 with 3000 snaps on his body by ’27, and that mobility and acceleration have become a real issue.
Levin’s line on the situation was simple: “They're not gonna pay a player four million and then cut him. They're gonna cut him before they have to pay the four million.”
The prediction attached to Smith is that Baltimore offers him a bargain deal for 2027 and he walks into free agency when the league year opens. The suggested next step is to see what Trenton Simpson, Teddye Buchanan and Kyle Hamilton can do together, especially with only 30 snaps all season for that grouping so far.
Stanley’s future also looks shaky. The veteran left tackle is set up with a cap hit of $32M in one scenario and $28M in another, with $20M in savings available on a cut or trade.
Levin pointed to Stanley’s injury history and said the Ravens could absorb the extra $4M hit and cut him right away in March. The prediction here is a post-June 1 move that saves the $4M and lets Stanley test the market early.
Henry, meanwhile, looks like the one veteran back Baltimore may simply keep riding. At 33, he’s well past the point where most running backs are still effective, and the source says rookie offensive coordinator Declan Doyle has been leaning on him heavily this year.
Even so, Levin’s prediction is that “The King is back in 2027, even on a rebuilding team.” The suggestion is for Baltimore to find a viable complementary back who can handle 10-15 touches a game.
Henry’s cap numbers are listed at $16M, with just $4M in savings available.
Andrews is another complicated case, but Levin believes the tight end is probably staying put. The source is harsh on Andrews’ recent play, saying he’s been one of the worst tight ends in the NFL over the last two seasons and that he leads the position in drop percentage and false starts.
Still, Levin said, “They could possibly trade him, but I would think more likely he's probably going to be on their roster next year.” Baltimore couldn’t get a fourth-round pick for him after 2024, and the $5M guarantee makes a return more likely.
Andrews has a $13M base salary with a $3.5M injury guarantee, and his cap hits are listed at $8M in one scenario and $3M in another depending on the move.
Bateman is the likeliest of the group to be moved on from. Levin said, “He would be a good candidate for a post-June 1 designation for sure.”
The source frames Bateman as a first-round bust who has done little on the field and nothing in terms of winning traits, while also noting Jackson has his worst passer rating and highest interception rate when throwing to him. Bateman doesn’t have 300 receiving yards yet this season.
The suggestion is for Baltimore to start benching him to protect the injury guarantee and possibly get fourth-round pick Elijah Sarratt active on game day.
Marlon Humphrey was left out of the exercise because he’s a UFA in 2027, though he would still count $12M against the cap either way.
For Baltimore, the picture is ugly no matter how it’s sliced. Levin’s read suggests the Ravens may be headed toward a roster shakeup that includes some big names, a few hard cuts, and at least one expensive decision they can’t avoid much longer.
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