Lamar Jackson, NFL Stars Who Could Still Reset the Market During the 2026 Offseason

With organized team activities (OTAs) underway and minicamps on the horizon, it may feel like the 2026 NFL offseason is nearing its end. However, while it's true that the focus is now turning to on-field activities, franchises still have plenty of off-field moves left to make.

For many franchises, contract extensions will be near the top of the to-do list. Teams rarely like to let contract questions linger into the regular season and often work to get new deals done ahead of training camp.

The Los Angeles Rams, for example, recently inked quarterback Matthew Stafford to a one-year, $55 million extension. While the reigning MVP's new deal won't make him the league's highest-paid quarterback, it could help set up signal-callers due for extensions, like Lamar Jackson, to reset the market.

In fact, we could see multiple players reset their respective positional markets before the 2026 offseason finally draws to a close.

Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens

AP Photo/Terrance Williams

Stafford joins a group of top-tier quarterbacks—one that includes Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, and Jordan Love—who are all making $55 million annually. That rate appears to be the current NFL ceiling, even though Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott actually leads the market with a deal worth $60 million annually.

At some point, a quarterback is going to push through the $55 million apron and actually top Prescott's deal. Lamar Jackson, a two-time MVP, could be just the one to do it.

Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta told reporters back in February that he's "definitely" confident that the team will extend Jackson. We can assume, then, that Jackson's upcoming extension isn't a matter of if but when and how much.

It would be a massive surprise if Jackson's next deal doesn't put him on par with Stafford and Co., and there's a real chance he could surpass Prescott. The timing of a new deal is the bigger unknown.

Jackson is currently under contract through 2027 at a rate of $52 million annually, but his cap hit will jump to $84.3 million next season. Baltimore will need to work out a new deal by next spring, but waiting until then could also be problematic.

This is, in part, because Jackson's contract includes a no-tag clause. He could, in theory, accept a big 2027 payday and hit the open market in 2028.

"This one has a chance to get really interesting again, especially if he has a big year and ups his leverage," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler recently wrote.

It may behoove the Ravens to extend Jackson, who was not present for early OTAs, now. And convincing Jackson to sign early could involve making him the league's highest-paid player.

Contract Projection: Three Years, $181 Million

Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions

AP Photo/Rey Del Rio, File

There are a few reasons to believe that Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs will receive a contract extension sooner rather than later. The first is the fact that Detroit has a habit of extending key players early, and it isn't afraid to pay fair market value.

In fact, Detroit just extended linebacker Jack Campbell with a four-year, $81 million deal. That places Campbell behind only Fred Warner in terms of annual salary among off-ball linebackers.

Secondly, Gibbs has proven that he is worthy of an early extension. The 24-year-old has racked up 5,029 scrimmage yards and 49 touchdowns in only three seasons despite regularly splitting time with former Lions back David Montgomery.

Lastly, the Lions should be eager to extend Gibbs before fellow 2023 first-round pick Bijan Robinson gets his new contract. There's a non-zero chance that whoever signs first will already become the league's highest-paid running back and whoever signs second will look to top that deal.

Saquon Barkley currently tops the market with a $20.6 million annual salary, but the gap between Barkley and everyone else is closing. The extension De'Von Achane recently received from the Miami Dolphins will pay him $16 million annually, and Jeremiyah Love's rookie contract is worth $13.3 million per year.

Yes, Love's deal is a product of draft slotting, but it's still likely to raise the floor for top-tier running back contracts.

Contract Projection: Three Years, $69 Million

Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons

AP Photo/Peter Joneleit

As previously noted, the futures of Gibbs and Robinson are likely to be linked. Both backs were drafted within the first 12 selections in 2023, and both have proven themselves to be truly dynamic every-down NFL backs.

In three seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, Robinson has racked up 5,648 scrimmage yards and 34 touchdowns. Like Gibbs, he's more than just a running back; he's an offensive centerpiece.

This is a big part of the reason why Robinson could reset the running-back market, if not change how we view the position entirely. His ability to fill multiple roles in an offense makes him far more valuable than a typical every-down ball-carrier.

Of course, Robinson isn't the first player to be more of an offensive weapon than a pure running back. Barkley was exactly that during his 2024 Offensive Player of the Year campaign, which directly led to his latest deal. Christian McCaffrey had a very similar season in 2023.

The difference with Robinson—and Gibbs, for that matter—is youth. Robinson is only 24 years old, and whenever the Falcons pay him, they'll be paying him for multiple years of his playing prime.

Presumably, the Falcons will look to pay Robinson before Gibbs puts pen to paper.

Contract Projection: Four Years, $89 Million

Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons

AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

Robinson isn't the only Falcon who could get a market-leading deal this offseason. However, things with tight end Kyle Pitts are a little more complicated.

While Robinson has pretty much been as-advertised since entering the league, Pitts' production has been more up-and-down. The fourth overall pick in the 2021 draft had a 1,000-yard season as a rookie, then too often disappeared over the next three seasons.

To be fair, inconsistent quarterback play and questionable coaching did little to help Pitts' development.

This past season, Pitts reemerged as a difference-making offensive mismatch. While he didn't produce his second 1,000-yard season, he caught 88 passes for 928 yards and five touchdowns. While Pitts hasn't established himself as the league's most prolific receiving tight end, at 6'6" and 250 pounds, he may still possess the highest ceiling at his position in the league.

Atlanta gave Pitts the franchise tag early this offseason, and it has until July 15 to work out a long-term deal. While the Falcons may allow Pitts to play on the tag and reevaluate his future in 2027, there are reasons why extending him now would make sense.

The biggest is that tight ends are woefully underpaid in comparison to wide receivers. Trey McBride and George Kittle are the only tight ends who make $19 million or more annually, and Kittle tops the market with a $19.1 million salary.

The list of receivers who make more than $19 million annually includes second-tier wideouts like Jakobi Meyers, Calvin Ridley, and Courtland Sutton.

At some point, we're going to see the pay gap between receivers and tight ends start to shrink, and Pitts could be the one to make it happen. He's set to earn just over $15 million on the franchise tag this season, and he'd earn just over $18 million if tagged a second time in 2027.

Paying Pitts a bit more and locking up the 25-year-old for the foreseeable future—and doing it before Brock Bowers becomes extension-eligible in 2027—could be a logical long-term move.

Contract Projection: Four Years, $80 Million

Christian Gonzalez, CB, New England Patriots

AP Photo/Steve Luciano

The Lions and Falcons may race to be the first team to sign its star running back. We may see a similar situation play out with the New England Patriots, the Seattle Seahawks, and their star cornerbacks.

We've already seen the cornerback market get reset once this offseason.

The Los Angeles Rams traded for Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie in March, then immediately signed him to a four-year, $124 million extension. That deal made McDuffie the highest-paid defensive back in league history, and will pay him $900,000 more annually than any other cornerback.

New England's Christian Gonzalez can make a strong case for topping McDuffie's deal. He's established himself as one of the league's premier cover corners (77.3 career opposing passer rating), just helped the Patriots reach the Super Bowl, and will only turn 24 next month.

Unsurprisingly, the Patriots exercised the fifth-year option on Gonzalez's contract and are already thinking about a long-term deal.

"We identify the guys that we want to keep with us and that have earned long-term extensions with us," head coach Mike Vrabel said, per Mark Daniels of MassLive. "And Christian, Gonzo is certainly one of those players, but I can't comment on the negotiations."

The problem for New England is that McDuffie's contract might not be the only cornerback deal it needs to top, depending on when it signs Gonzalez. Seattle's Devon Witherspoon was also drafted in 2023 and also just helped to lead a Super Bowl run—one that ended with a championship.

Contract Projection: Four Years, $125 Million

Devon Witherspoon, CB, Seattle Seahawks

AP Photo/Stephen Brashear

It's entirely fair to debate whether Gonzalez or Witherspoon has been the better cornerback since entering the league in 2023. While Witherspoon is a three-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion, he's been less consistent on a down-to-down basis.

Witherspoon has allowed a career opposing passer rating of 95.8.

What can't be argued is that Gonzalez and Witherspoon are two of the best young corners in the league and that they are likely to soon earn very similar contracts—not unlike 2022 draft-mates Sauce Gardner and Derek Stingley Jr., who sit just below McDuffie in terms of annual salary.

Draft status and age (Witherspoon is 25) are pieces of the equation. Another part of the puzzle is the fact that Witherspoon and Gonzalez share representation.

According to ESPN's Brady Henderson, the Seahawks have already made an offer to Witherspoon but "do not yet appear to be close," and Gonzalez could be a factor.

"Some in league circles have wondered if the relatively slow pace could be related to the fact that Witherspoon is represented by the same agency—WIN Sports Group—as another star cornerback, Christian Gonzalez," Henderson wrote.

The representatives of Witherspoon and Gonzalez will likely look to get the cornerbacks very similar deals. However, whoever signs second is likely to set the new benchmark due to the next-man-up nature of NFL contracts.

Contract Projection: Four Years, $125.5 Million