OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Just over a week after extending three-time Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews, the Ravens have locked up a young impact player with a long-term contract.
On Thursday, general manager Eric DeCosta signed defensive tackle Travis Jones to a three-year contract worth a reported $40.5 million — $25 million guaranteed — that will run through the 2028 season. The 26-year-old was in the final year of his rookie deal, but a pending grievance about his free-agent status prompted the sides to work out an extension, according to The Athletic.
In a statement released by the team, DeCosta called it “very exciting” to extend “an ascending player” on Baltimore’s defensive line. Of course, the re-signing of Jones became even more critical with two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike suffering a Week 2 neck injury that’s left his long-term football future in serious doubt.
The 6-foot-4, 341-pound Jones is widely regarded as one of the better run-stopping nose tackles in the NFL with Pro Football Focus grading him 14th overall and sixth in run defense grade among qualified interior defenders this season. In 12 games this season, the 2022 third-round pick out of Connecticut has collected 34 tackles, a career-high six tackles for a loss, 1 1/2 sacks, five quarterback hits, and two batted passes. The $13.5 million average annual value of the deal would rank Jones 26th among interior defensive linemen, according to OverTheCap.com.
Jones is now the second member of the Ravens’ 2022 draft class to receive a contract extension after two-time Pro Bowl selection Kyle Hamilton signed a four-year, $100.4 million deal in late August that made him the highest-paid safety in NFL history.
