Having players at premium positions on expensive multi-year deals is a good problem to have. It often means a team hit on an elite talent worth backing up the brink’s truck for and paying top of the market.
In each of the past two offseasons, the Baltimore Ravens were able to retain their top pending free agents by handing out big paydays. The players were franchise quarterback Lamar Jackson in 2023 and defensive tackle Justin Madubuike this past March.
Jackson immediately rewarded the team’s faith in him by producing his second career MVP campaign and Madubuike continued his upward ascension by breaking out in 2023.