BALTIMORE — Lamar Jackson just sent a massive message to the rest of the AFC North. The two-time NFL MVP walked into the Under Armour Performance Center Monday morning for voluntary offseason workouts, pocketing a quick $750,000 bonus in the process. He didn’t wait. He didn’t hesitate. After a frustrating 2025 campaign derailed by injuries and a missed postseason, the 29-year-old quarterback is setting the tone on day one for new head coach Jesse Minter.
A Fresh Era at the Castle
The air in Owings Mills feels drastically different this spring. John Harbaugh is gone. Jesse Minter now calls the shots, and he brought Declan Doyle over from Chicago to run the offense. Jackson showing up early is exactly what this new regime desperately needed. Last season, the Ravens sputtered out. Jackson managed just 2,549 passing yards and 21 touchdowns across 13 starts, limping to an uncharacteristic 6-7 record as a starter. The offense looked entirely flat.
Now, with a looming contract extension on the table, Jackson is locking in to master Doyle’s playbook. You could feel the shift in energy as Jackson hit the practice grass. The chilly April wind didn’t deter the veterans who immediately followed his lead, turning the practice field into a blur of purple and black. They know the championship window is tight, and a revamped offensive scheme requires maximum repetition. Jackson didn’t just throw standard out routes; he fired passes with noticeable velocity, determined to erase the bitter taste of last winter.
“I just think that he’s excited for us to connect, for us to build a relationship, for us to trust each other, for us to be able to talk through things. You don’t become the level of player that he has without a great work ethic… I am just excited for him to continue to grow, evolve, and become an even better version of Lamar.”
— Jesse Minter, Head Coach
Playoff Implications / What’s Next
Jackson’s early attendance instantly raises Baltimore’s floor in a brutal AFC North division. When your franchise quarterback buys in immediately, the rest of the 53-man roster falls into place without complaints. The front office is actively grinding on extending Jackson’s contract, and his willingness to embrace Minter’s culture gives general manager Eric DeCosta crucial leverage to aggressively pursue an All-Pro wide receiver in the coming weeks. The Ravens desperately need an elite perimeter threat to stretch the field. If DeCosta lands a true number-one target, Jackson’s early chemistry with Doyle could transform Baltimore from a 2025 disappointment back into a legitimate Lombardi contender.
