Topic / Subject
Per ESPN, Ravens GM Eric DeCosta says he’s confident about a Lamar Jackson extension and says Baltimore has a “market-setting” offer out to center Tyler Linderbaum.
TL;DR / Summary
The Ravens are signaling they want their core locked in: confidence on a Lamar extension and a “market-setting” offer to Tyler Linderbaum, per ESPN. The message is loud — the paperwork is the next step.
Key Details
Player/team:
Baltimore Ravens, Lamar Jackson, Tyler Linderbaum
What’s rumored:
Extension confidence on Lamar (not finalized yet). A “market-setting” offer to Linderbaum, per DeCosta via ESPN.
Timing:
Comments surfaced in the NFL Combine news-cycle context.
Breakdown
This is Baltimore doing the “core protection” speech out loud: keep the franchise QB happy, keep the elite center in-house, and don’t let foundational pieces even smell the open market.
The Lamar piece is the headline because quarterback money drives everything else. If (and when) a Lamar extension lands, it can reshape how the Ravens build around him.
Linderbaum matters too. Centers don’t always get splashy headlines, but a high-end one is a stabilizer for the entire offense. Calling the offer “market-setting” is a loud signal that Baltimore wants this done.
Still, confidence and offers aren’t signatures. Until deals are completed, there’s always room for timelines to stretch.
What We Know
DeCosta said he’s confident the Ravens can reach an extension with Lamar Jackson, per ESPN. DeCosta said the Ravens have made a “market-setting” proposal to Tyler Linderbaum, per ESPN. The comments were made during combine-week media coverage.
What We Don’t Know
Whether Lamar’s extension is imminent or a longer negotiation. Whether Linderbaum accepts, counters, or drags it out into the offseason. How the final structures impact Baltimore’s cap approach (no numbers provided in the intake).
Can This Actually Happen?
Contract/cap reality (high-level):
Yes — extensions and early “core” deals are common, especially for teams that plan ahead. The sticking points are structure, guarantees, and timing.
Team incentives:
Baltimore wants stability at the most important positions and cost certainty before other roster decisions.
What would need to be true:
Agreement on length/guarantees and a structure that fits the Ravens’ long-term cap planning.
Would It Even Make Sense?
Scheme fit:
Keeping Lamar is the entire offense. Keeping Linderbaum preserves continuity and protection in the middle.
Depth chart role:
Both are foundational. This isn’t “nice to have” — it’s the spine of the team.
Timeline:
The Ravens are in a win-now window. Locking in core pieces early fits that reality.
Verdict Box
Likelihood: Medium
Why: Public confidence and a “market-setting” offer are strong signals, but extensions can still take time even when both sides want them.
What to Watch Next
Any reporting that Lamar’s deal terms are being finalized. Whether Linderbaum’s camp publicly responds or leaks counter-positions. Additional Baltimore cap/roster moves that suggest the team is preparing for new contract numbers.
Sources
ESPN — Ravens confident about contract extension for Lamar Jackson
Comment
Which one do you think gets done first — Lamar’s extension or Linderbaum’s deal — and why?


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