Ravens confident about contract extension for Lamar Jackson - ESPN

INDIANAPOLIS — Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said Tuesday he's «definitely» confident that a contract extension can be reached with two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson.

In addition, DeCosta indicated the Ravens have made a «market-setting» proposal to Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum, who is considered one of the top available players in free agency.

Jackson is set to count $74.5 million against the salary cap this season — the second highest in the NFL. The Ravens would likely need to reach a new deal with Jackson or restructure his contract by the start of the league year on March 11, so they can gain more cap space for free agency.

«Lamar and I have an agreement [that] we handle business kind of in-house internally,» DeCosta said at the NFL scouting combine on Tuesday. «That worked well for us the last time and we will continue to have that policy moving forward. I have spoken to Lamar about a lot of different things over the last month. He's been very engaged.… We'll continue those conversations moving forward.»

Jackson, 29, is under contract for two more seasons. With a new deal, the Ravens would likely create $30 million in cap space and keep Jackson under contract for another three to four years.

If the sides can't reach an extension by next month, owner Steve Bisciotti previously said the team would restructure Jackson's contract, which would not be optimal. By converting a large portion of Jackson's $51.2 million salary into a signing bonus, Baltimore can create the needed cap room but it would increase Jackson's cap number in 2027, which is the final year of his deal.

When Jackson signed his last contract with Baltimore, he became the NFL's highest-paid player at $52 million per