Every time the NFL salary cap jumps, one name dominates the conversation. Right now, that name is Lamar Jackson, and the timing couldn’t be more loaded.

On Friday, NFL insider Ari Meirov reported that the league notified teams of a $301.2 million salary cap for 2026, a $22 million rise from last year.

Fans didn’t need long to weigh in.

“Lamar Jackson negotiating his extension right now,” one fan said.

“Cool, so the owners get another $22M and ticket prices will still go up 15%. Make it make sense,” another fan said.

“Somewhere right now, a completely average wide receiver who only had 600 yards last season is getting ready to demand $35 million a year. The market is about to be completely broken,” a fan said.

Here are some more reactions from fans.

“That’s a solid increase. Gives teams more flexibility for free agency moves,” one fan said.

“Lamar Jackson agents rn: ‘We heard $301M… make it make sense,” another fan said.

“$300M+ cap… league money really booming,” a fan said.

Lamar Jackson currently has two years left on the five-year, $260 million deal he signed in 2023. His 2026 cap hit sits at $74.5 million, the second-highest number in the league. Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti has set March 11 as a target date to get a new deal done before the league year opens. General manager Eric DeCosta said at the combine on Feb. 24 that he’s optimistic something gets finalized.

The cap jump only adds fuel. When Jackson signed in 2023, the cap stood at $224.8 million. At $301.2 million in 2026, that’s a massive shift, and Jackson, who represents himself, has every reason to factor that into whatever number he puts on the table.

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Ravens face tight deadline as Lamar Jackson contract talks heat up

Baltimore isn’t just watching the cap number go up, they’re racing against a clock. Lamar Jackson’s current deal carries no-trade protection and blocks the Ravens from franchising him when it expires after 2027. That gives him rare leverage heading into these talks.

The Ravens have 22 unrestricted free agents to manage, including center Tyler Linderbaum and tight end Isaiah Likely. DeCosta can restructure contracts to open space, but a Jackson extension would reshape the entire offseason picture in one move.