With the NFL draft now behind us, most of the attention has shifted toward preseason hype and fantasy football. For front offices, though, the offseason does not really slow down. Now that the fifth-year option deadline for the 2023 draft class has passed, teams can start focusing more seriously on extension talks and long-term roster planning. Some of those negotiations will naturally grab headlines, but there are also a few notable players quietly lining themselves up for major new deals heading into the summer, which is something we will go over today.

Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens restructured Lamar Jackson’s contract to create room for the 2026 season. His salary cap hit of $74.5 million is down to $34.54 million, and his 2027 cap hit moves from $74.5 million to $84.49 million. Moves like that typically signal a team trying to create short-term flexibility while keeping the door open for a larger extension discussion.

The two sides have been negotiating a potential extension for months. If the Ravens want to make Jackson the highest-paid player in the league, he’d have to surpass Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, who’s averaging $60 million per season. Jackson has two years and $104 million remaining on his five-year, $260 million contract that he signed three years ago. He currently ranks 10th among quarterbacks in average per year and fourth in signing bonus.

That is a notable shift considering Jackson was once viewed as the player who reset the quarterback market, while the value of elite quarterbacks has only continued climbing since his deal was signed.

There seems to be no clear indication from either side that they want to part ways, but the two sides had trouble agreeing to a contract three years ago, and it appears they are having problems again.

The situation is also slightly more layered because Jackson represents himself, which can make negotiations more direct and less flexible once both sides establish their leverage points. At the same time, Baltimore still has to weigh the long-term roster impact of another massive quarterback extension, even if letting negotiations drag carries its own risks.

Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams

Puka Nacua was selected in the fifth round of the 2023 draft and is still on his rookie contract. He’s coming off a big season like Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who signed a four-year, $168.6 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid receiver in NFL history. The extension for Nacua will likely push that number.

Nacua had 129 catches, 1,715 yards, and 10 touchdowns in 2025 and is a clear difference maker while out on the field. At this point, the conversation is less about whether the Rams view him as a foundational piece and more about how aggressively they want to move before the market shifts again. The Los Angeles Rams have other concerns to worry about next offseason, with defensive linemen Jared Verse and Braden Fisk, and even quarterback Matthew Stafford, so getting Nacua done sooner rather than later would be beneficial. Waiting could ultimately leave Los Angeles negotiating from a weaker position if another top receiver extension raises the financial baseline yet again.

Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons

Just like Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs, Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson is due for a contract extension this offseason. Robinson has had more rushing yards, rushing attempts, receiving yards, and catches since the two entered the league, giving Robinson a strong case to become the NFL’s highest-paid running back. That argument becomes even stronger when factoring in how heavily Robinson impacts the offense beyond traditional rushing production, especially as a receiver and every-down option rather than a situational back.

The Falcons hired new head coach Kevin Stefanski, whose system would work a lot better with a premier running back like Robinson manning it. Stefanski’s offenses have historically leaned on the run game and play-action structure, which only increases Robinson’s long-term value within the system. It’d be smart for the Falcons to get a deal done before Gibbs signs a new contract, potentially making it cheaper.

Once another young star running back resets the market, Atlanta would likely lose whatever negotiating advantage exists right now. The team also has extensions with other key players, like Jessie Bates III, Matthew Bergeron, and Drake London, next offseason. That makes the timing important from a roster-building standpoint as well, since delaying multiple major negotiations at once can quickly complicate future cap planning.

CJ Stroud, QB, Houston Texans

Everyone will remember the type of postseason Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud had in the NFL playoffs, with five interceptions and five fumbles. It wasn’t pretty, but Stround is eligible for a contract extension. The timing of that rough stretch matters because franchise quarterbacks are usually paid not just for regular-season consistency, but for proving they can elevate a team deep into January.

The team signed edge Will Anderson Jr. to a three-year, $150 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. That deal also signals Houston is willing to spend aggressively on cornerstone talent, though quarterback contracts operate on an entirely different financial scale. The Texans don’t have to do anything, as Stroud is under contract through 2027 after the team exercised his fifth-year option. He’s eligible, but it’s likely the team will wait to see how he performs this season before making a long-term commitment.

From the Texans’ perspective, there is little urgency to accelerate negotiations when they still control Stroud’s contractual timeline and have already seen how quickly quarterback evaluations can shift year to year. At the same time, another strong season would likely strengthen Stroud’s leverage considerably and push the eventual price even higher.

De’Von Achane, RB, Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins have torn apart the offensive foundation they once had. The team parted ways with Tua Tagovailoa, Jaylen Waddle, and Tyreek Hill. Achane is the only one who remains from the Mike McDaniels days. The team hired a new head coach and general manager this offseason in Jeff Hafley and Jon-Eric Sullivan.

That makes Achane more than just a productive running back in the current setup. He’s one of the few remaining offensive pieces the franchise can still build continuity around during a major transition period.

All signs have pointed to the team wanting to keep Achane during the 2026 season. The team has reported that they were called and turned down. Achane had a career-high 1,350 rushing yards in 2025. Production alone is not the only factor working in his favor, either, considering his explosiveness fits the type of offense most modern coaching staffs still want to maintain, regardless of scheme changes.

He’ll be a free agent after this season, and if the Dolphins truly do want to keep him around, they could enter extension talks with him during the summer. Waiting too long would risk Miami losing negotiating control entirely once he reaches the open market, especially if another strong season further raises his value.

Sam Darnold, QB, Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks are coming off a Super Bowl win with Darnold, so a potential extension could be negotiated before next spring. The team has him under contract through the 2027 NFL season, but Darnold has $17.5 million in guaranteed money left. That gives Seattle flexibility, though a championship season naturally changes the tone of any quarterback discussion regardless of previous expectations surrounding the player.

If the two sides were to look at a potential extension, it’d likely be around $40 million per year. Darnold is coming off a 4,048-yard, 25-touchdown, and 14-interception season. The challenge for Seattle is determining whether that production represents a sustainable long-term level or the peak of a strong situation with a championship-caliber roster around him. At the same time, allowing the situation to play out too long could leave the Seahawks negotiating against a rising quarterback market if Darnold follows up with another deep postseason run.

Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints

Olave is still playing under his rookie deal, as the New Orleans Saints picked up his fifth-year options, having him through the 2026 season. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent next spring. The team drafted Jordyn Tyson with the eighth-overall pick, but the understanding has been that the team wants to build around their young quarterback, Tyler Shough. Olave is a key piece to that. For a team trying to stabilize a younger offensive core, moving forward without a proven receiver like Olave would only create another major question mark around the quarterback situation.

Throughout his four years in the NFL, Olave has battled injuries, especially concussions. That remains the biggest complication in any long-term discussion because availability concerns tend to impact receiver negotiations almost as much as production itself. He’s coming off his, snaps-wise, having 887 last year. At the same time, when healthy, Olave has consistently shown WR1-level traits, which makes this less about talent evaluation and more about how comfortable New Orleans feels projecting his long-term durability.