The Baltimore Ravens are entering an important offseason after an 8-9 record, but there’s still a big question about quarterback Lamar Jackson. The QB suffered a back injury in December last year and struggled to walk on the field. As the voluntary program is scheduled to take place next week, head coach Jesse Minter said he doesn’t know how much time the quarterback will take to join. But, one analyst thinks this is the perfect time for Jackson to step up and lead.

“If you’re the highest-paid player on the team, installing a new offense, and you got a new contract,” former defensive tackle Booger McFarland said on NFL on ESPN. “I think a lot of teammates are going to expect Lamar to be there the majority of the time.”

Former player-turned analyst, McFarland, urged Jackson to show his leadership and attend the voluntary program as the face of the franchise. It sends a message that the locker room can feel. He’s a two-time MVP and still viewed as one of the league’s elite quarterbacks, so he’s earned trust. However, the last season altered the dynamics somewhat, as injuries caused him to start just 13 times.

For the first time in his career, the Ravens player finished the season with a losing record as a starter. This caused a lot of concern, as the Ravens, despite having a roster that was supposed to compete in the Super Bowl, didn’t even make a noise in the postseason as a consequence of which the head coach, John Harbaugh, even lost his job.

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Considering the fact that everything has gone wrong in the Ravens’ case, the fact that Jackson choosing to attend voluntary workouts doesn’t seem to be a necessity but a requirement. However, if the player doesn’t attend the voluntary workouts, it won’tt be a surprise still.

This is because the two-time MVP has been able to remain effective in the game despite his absence from most voluntary workouts in the eight years he has been in the game. Last offseason, he actually missed eight out of nine practices before the mandatory minicamp. He also has roster-bonus incentives tied to voluntary participation and has previously left roughly $1.5 million on the table across the last two seasons by not meeting those thresholds. This year, though, things are set up quite differently for the Ravens.

The Ravens are entering a new chapter. Minter is the new head coach, and offensive coordinator Declan Doyle will handle the playcalling with a brand-new system. Doyle has already emphasized that building relationships early in a new regime matters if the team wants to operate with “championship standards,” reinforcing why participation carries added weight this offseason. The offseason program kicks off on April 6, with practices starting in May and a mandatory minicamp scheduled for June 9 to June 11.

However, Minter is still not sure if Jackson will be joining.

“I know Lamar’s excited. I think he is excited about some of the changes,” Minter said Tuesday at the NFL league meeting. “We’ve had a lot of good connection points, but the offseason program is voluntary. We’re excited to get a chance to work with all the guys, whoever wants to show up. We feel confident that a lot of guys will be there.”

So, the door is open, but the decision remains Jackson’s. When pressed further, Minter kept things open-ended.

“I think he’s excited about opportunities in the offseason program. And again, we’ll see on April 6th. We’ll see who all walks in the door.”

Minter also stressed that the early part of the offseason is important for establishing communication with Jackson in a new coaching environment, saying the quarterback is eager to build trust, stay involved in discussions about the system, and contribute input as the offense takes shape.

Meanwhile, Jackson had a rough year. The Ravens quarterback finished with a 6-7 record, which was his first losing season as a starter. Despite this, Minter showed strong support for his quarterback.

“I’m just excited about him,” Minter said. “You don’t become the level of player that he has without a great work ethic, without being a great teammate, without being a leader. And so just excited for him to continue to grow and evolve and become an even better version of Lamar.”

Not only that, but Minter also shared status on Lamar’s long-term future at the franchise.

Jesse Minter commented on Lamar Jackson’s future

Before the new league year, the Baltimore Ravens wanted to sign Lamar Jackson, but that didn’t happen. Jackson remains under contract through the 2027 season, though both sides have continued discussions about a possible extension. But now head coach Jesse Minter stepped in and gave a calm update on the situation.

“Lamar knows how the organization feels about him. We know how he feels about us. We think in due time that that’ll all work itself out,” Minter said on Lamar Jackson’s contract extension.

The Ravens also changed his current deal earlier this month to ease some of the immediate cap pressure. That change freed up almost $40 million for 2026, but it also added more weight to future seasons. From Baltimore’s point of view, it was about taking care of the present while making plans for the future.

Around the same time, Jackson added fuel to the conversation with a lighthearted Instagram story that still caught attention.

He shared a fun video using a filter that made his face look much chubbier than usual. But the real highlight was the music he chose. The song “Real Big” by Mannie Fresh was playing softly in the background, and one line really caught attention.

“Pockets real big” rang out in the clip, and fans definitely picked up on that message.

At the same time, in Baltimore, discussions are ongoing as both sides seek a middle ground.

“We want another window, and Lamar knows that,” owner Steve Bisciotti said while pointing to a shared goal. “I think he is amenable to doing something that mirrors the last deal that he did, although the annual number will be a little higher.”

Even with that optimism, there’s growing pressure surrounding the Ravens. The hold-up has led to more conversations throughout the league, keeping Jackson’s future with the team at the forefront.