Lamar Jackson remains one of the NFL's most valuable players. Sunday's performance in Indianapolis was another stark reminder. In the first game of the Declan Doyle era, Jackson looked liberated and completely in command as the Baltimore Ravens overwhelmed the Colts 41-23. The Ravens produced 506 yards of total offense in a showcase that immediately made the new play-caller look like a masterstroke. Jackson completed 17 of 25 passes for 324 yards and a touchdown. Doyle's offense created space and allowed Jackson to attack defenses without constantly putting his body in harm's way. If that formula continues, Baltimore will have to eventually ask: how much is the two-time MVP worth? The answer could ultimately land somewhere around an unprecedented $70 million per year.
Doyle's debut
At Lucas Oil Stadium, the Ravens exploded for more than 500 yards in an emphatic blowout. Jackson delivered a surgical masterpiece. Even more impressive was his response when Baltimore's receiving corps absorbed injuries. Zay Flowers erupted for 150 yards and a touchdown before leaving with a hamstring injury. Ja'Kobi Lane also exited with a wrist injury. Jackson simply kept attacking. He found Mark Andrews and other targets, while Chris Moore provided the explosive element with a 54-yard touchdown reception. Derrick Henry supplied the punishment on the ground. He rushed for 144 yards and three touchdowns as Baltimore repeatedly forced Indianapolis to defend every blade of grass. The Ravens scored on four of their first five offensive possessions and built an 18-point halftime advantage. That turned Doyle's first game as an NFL play-caller into an emphatic statement.
Unlocking Lamar Jackson
The brilliance of pairing Jackson with Doyle lies in how quickly the new coordinator appeared to understand what makes his quarterback most dangerous. Baltimore's offense has historically been at its best when Jackson can threaten defenses with both his arm and legs. Doyle's debut, though, suggested a more expansive version of that philosophy. The Ravens used more 11 personnel and placed Jackson under center more frequently. Motion and formation variation forced Indianapolis to reveal its intentions before the snap. That gave Jackson cleaner pictures and allowed him to attack more urgently.
The result was spectacular. Jackson did not need to run wild to control the game. He only carried the ball four times. That is perhaps the most exciting part of Doyle's arrival: Jackson can become more dangerous without necessarily becoming more exposed.
It is a nightmare built around choices. Jackson's 13.0 yards per attempt against Indianapolis demonstrated what happens when those choices are presented correctly. He was repeatedly delivering the football downfield from a structure designed to create favorable opportunities. That is exactly the type of quarterback environment that can extend a superstar's prime.
Hello, seventy million
The football argument is only half of this story because the other half is money. Jackson signed a five-year, $260 million contract with Baltimore in 2023. That agreement currently averages $52 million per year. Jackson is now approaching the point where another contract conversation could become unavoidable, particularly if he returns to MVP form under Doyle.
Article Continues BelowAnd $70 million no longer sounds completely absurd but rather, the next market milestone. The key is that Jackson does not need to become a different quarterback to justify it. He simply needs to remain the player Baltimore already knows it has. That's a two-time MVP now operating within an offensive structure that could make him even more efficient.
That combination is extraordinarily expensive. Jackson has already demonstrated that he is willing to bet on himself. Baltimore's front office, meanwhile, has every incentive to ensure that it will keep its franchise quarterback.
If Jackson produces another MVP-caliber season and Baltimore returns to legitimate Super Bowl contention, the negotiating leverage becomes overwhelming. At that point, $70 million annually would not be a shocking demand. It would be just be logical.
Finding the formula
There is another reason Doyle's emergence matters so much to Jackson's financial future. The Ravens cannot simply pay Jackson an enormous salary and continue asking him to absorb unnecessary punishment. His value is tied directly to his availability. Sunday's game offered an encouraging blueprint for preserving it.
Jackson was devastating without being reckless. That is sustainable superstar football. The Ravens also demonstrated that their offense does not collapse when one weapon disappears. Flowers' injury could have disrupted the game plan, but Jackson continued distributing the ball and Baltimore kept scoring. That adaptability is perhaps the strongest evidence that Doyle's system is bigger than any single player.
For Jackson, that is fantastic news. The $70 million question will loom throughout the season. The Jackson-Doyle pairing, however, has offered an early answe.