From Lamar Jackson's protection in Baltimore to C.J. Stroud's regression in Houston, glaring roster holes and quarterback questions could derail every AFC team in 2026

Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said Wednesday that he is “optimistic” that he will be able to get a contract extension done with quarterback Lamar Jackson before next March, when the next league year begins.

Lamar Jackson says his health prevented him from playing his brand of football in 2025, which inevitably affected the entire Baltimore offense.

Jackson is almost unstoppable passing the ball on first down out of under-center formations, using play action. Still, he's rarely done it. Until now

Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti stated earlier in the offseason that extending Jackson’s contract was an organizational priority. However, the Ravens and Jackson were unable to reach a deal before free agency, so they restructured his contract to give the team breathing room under the salary cap.

For Lamar Jackson, the pressure to win a Super Bowl has only grown with each passing season. While the Baltimore Ravens quarterback has already collected two MVP awards, Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Irvin believes the disappointment of falling short has to fuel him rather than overwhelm him.

ESPN's Bill Barnwell believes the chances of Ravens QB Lamar Jackson "playing out 2026 without an extension could grow by the day."

Nick Wright, Chris Broussard, Kevin Wildes and Greg Jennings dive into whether Lamar Jackson can win his third MVP this season, then react to FOX NFL reporter Henry McKenna predicting the Kansas City Chiefs to miss the playoffs and new writer Steven Ruiz's prediction: they can't win the Super Bowl.