The Baltimore Ravens still face some tough calls about key members of their 2022 NFL draft class ahead of free agency in 2026, but a major decision has already been reached about the future of nose tackle Travis Jones.
A third-round pick almost four years, ago, Jones is set to remain a Raven for another three seasons. He reached a “verbal agreement” for a contract extension on Thursday, December 11, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, who views the move as part of “the organization’s focus on rewarding its own players before they hit market.”
It’s an extension worth $40.5 million with $25 million guaranteed, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The handsome amount of money solved a potential problem for the Ravens, after the “NFLPA filed a grievance against the NFL on Jones’ behalf. The hearing was scheduled for today. Jones’ agent, Jared Fox, and the Ravens met before hearing and hammered out extension. Ravens got aggressive to get deal done and make sure Jones was content with contract,” according to Zrebiec.
As Zrebiec pointed out, “If Jones had won the grievance, he would have been an unrestricted FA in March. If he lost, he would have been a restricted FA and likely headed for the 2nd-round $6 million tender. That’s a moot point now and Jones, who the Ravens coaching staff loves, is signed through ’28.”
Now, general manager Eric DeCosta can focus on the futures of other prominent members of the 2022 draft class. He’s already paid the top name, All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton, but choices remain about center Tyler Linderbaum and tight end Isaiah Likely.
Ravens Moved Quickly to Ward Off Travis Jones Problem
Whatever happens with Linderbaum and Likely, the Ravens couldn’t risk losing Jones. Not when the 6-foot-4, 341-pounder remains the fulcrum of a defensive line facing uncertainty about another vital contributor.
All-Pro defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike is on injured reserve with a neck problem, and mystery remains about the severity of the injury. If Madubuike’s career is in jeopardy, the Ravens will need a reset at an important position.
That refresh could come via next year’s draft, when the Ravens are predicted to take an interior game-wrecker in the first round. Doing so would replace Madubuike’s dynamism as a pass-rusher, but Jones’ niche skills against the run would be tougher to replace.
The 26-year-old is a magnet for double teams and can reset the line of scrimmage to wreck running plays at source. Those qualities will always have value, so the Ravens didn’t want Jones to enter free agency, even though his path to the veteran market had become complicated.
As Zrebiec detailed, “Because of an issue with the collective bargaining agreement, Jones did not get an accrued season. With only three accredited years, Jones would have been eligible only to be a restricted free agent in March. That would have presumably made it much easier for the Ravens to keep him by using a second-round restricted free-agent tender, which would have cost in the neighborhood of $6 million.”
DeCosta wasn’t about to let this become a thing for Baltimore’s secret superstar, but he has other tricky calls to make ahead of free agency.
Tough Free Agency Calls Await Ravens
Likely is perhaps the trickiest next contract to address. The fourth-rounder is a special athlete with the ability to be a roving playmaker, but he’s rarely converted potential into production.
Getting called out by a Super Bowl winner who played his positions for the Ravens should be a wake-up call for Likely. So should DeCosta already choosing to pay veteran All-Pro Mark Andrews.
Any negative implications for Likely could prove positive for fellow tight end and fourth-rounder Charlie Kolar. He has a similar skill-set to Andrews and looks a more viable candidate to be retained.
The Ravens will also want to secure the future of Linderbaum. He’s a natural anchor in the trenches, a pivotman other teams will surely have atop their lists for free agency.
DeCosta knows Linderbaum is vital to the protection in front of franchise quarterback Lamar Jackson, so expect the Ravens to find a way to reach another deal with one more homegrown talent.
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