With free agency off to a roaring start, the Ravens and 31 other NFL teams have started financially retooling to advance to the 2024-25 postseason.
Prior to free agency, we looked inside at key offseason dates starting with the first week of the 2024 league year, which began March 13.
Some dates will free up cap space for Baltimore, while others force GM Eric DeCosta to make hard decisions.
Here’s a look at the key dates and players impacted.
March 17
This was the deadline for the Ravens to exercise an option for quarterback Lamar Jackson that’ll add a dummy year to his contract.
Baltimore made a $17.5 million payment to the MVP that’ll reduce Jackson’s 2024 base salary from a fully guaranteed $31.75 million to a fully guaranteed $14.25 million.
Jackson’s 42.75 million base salary was guaranteed for injury. $22.5 million of the $42.75 million was fully guaranteed at signing. The remaining $20.25 is fully guaranteed. Jackson’s injury guaranteed $750,000 2025 workout bonus is also fully guaranteed.
March 17
This was the deadline for the Ravens to exercise an option for linebacker Roquan Smith’s 2027 contract year worth $16 million.
Baltimore paid $12 million to lower Smith’s fully guaranteed $18 million 2024 base salary to $6 million.
Smith’s $15 million 2025 base salary was guaranteed.
March 17
Ravens tight end Mark Andrews was paid a $4 million roster bonus due.
March 18
Cornerback Marlon Humphrey has a $6.5 million injury guarantee that vests to a full guarantee for skill, cap, or injury.
