Ravens, large receiver Zay Plants comply with 4-one yr contract extension

Zay Plants has already done something no drafted Baltimore Ravens large receiver had ever done, and the crowd factual made positive he’ll reside with the workforce for the foreseeable long term.

The Ravens and Plants reached an settlement on a freelance extension, Baltimore’s maximum up-to-the-minute switch to praise one among its core gamers, the workforce introduced Tuesday. The 25-one year-used is making in a position for his fourth NFL season, and a choice on his fifth-one yr choice become once due Might perhaps perhaps perhaps 1. Every facets, regardless that, had prioritized a freelance extension this offseason.

The extension is for 4 years and price $140 million, with $108 million in assured money, in line with workforce assets who were not permitted to speak on story of economic minute print had now not but been introduced. This extension makes Plants the fourth-absolute top-paid receiver throughout the NFL overdue the Seattle Seahawks’ Jaxon Smith-Njigba ($42.15 million in line with 365 days), the Cincinnati Bengals’ Ja’Marr Trot ($40.25 million) and the Atlanta Falcons’ Drake London ($35.3 million).

The Ravens and WR Zay Plants salvage agreed to a four-one yr contract extension price $140 million, provide tells @TheAthletic. The deal incorporates $108M assured after he set in combination a Second instantly Professional Bowl season. ESPN first to list. %.twitter.com/xi1GvgiPZq

— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) August 4, 2026

The deal makes Plants the Second-absolute peak paid Raven in workforce history, overdue supreme quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Plants, a major-spherical pick out in 2023, has made the Professional Bowl two times in 3 seasons. When he become once decided on to his first Professional Bowl in 2024, he grew to turn into the vital factor homegrown Ravens large receiver to offer that difference.

Plants, the Ravens’ No. 1 receiver, has 237 catches for three,128 yards and 16 touchdowns in his first 50 frequent-season video video games. Since getting into the NFL, he ranks 10th amongst large receivers in yards and 13th in catches. He’s done it regardless of being in an offense that leans closely at the scoot sport and sides a couple of tight results in its passing attack.

The used Boston College standout already ranks 5th in franchise history in receiving yards and receptions after factual 3 seasons. He’s one among supreme 9 Ravens to publish a 1,000-yard receiving season, and he’s done it two times. His 1,211 receiving yards final season are a franchise list for a Ravens large receiver.

Ravens WR Zay Plants, who isn’t working towards, shared a hug at the be mindful box about 20 mins in the past and bought true purpose. Workforce confirms that the Ravens and Plants salvage reached settlement on an extension.

— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) August 4, 2026

There’s been a great deal of debate external the Ravens’ facility about whether or not Plants is a legitimate No. 1 receiver. At 5-foot-9, 183 kilos, Plants has now not been an astronomical crimson zone chance, and the Ravens’ deep passing sport has been spotty in contemporary years. He’s additionally had some high-profile ball-security elements.

Then again, Plants has been extremely productive, averaging 13.2 yards in line with reception. He’s been sturdy. having performed all alternatively one frequent-season sport in 3 years. He’s judicious one among the hardest staff at the workforce, and he has a cast rapport and friendship with Jackson, who subsidized the Ravens’ drafting of Plants in 2023.

Plants has equipped a prolonged-awaited counterargument to the Ravens’ prolonged-standing troubles drafting and creating large receivers.

The extension continues overall supervisor Eric DeCosta’s efforts to fasten in as many key Ravens as possible. Over the general one year-plus, the Ravens salvage signed extensions with a litany of key gamers, together with operating lend a hand Derrick Henry, large receiver Rashod Bateman, tight kill Notice Andrews, left care for Ronnie Stanley, nostril care for Travis Jones and safety Kyle Hamilton.

There become once a way of urgency with Plants on story of of the emerging prices throughout the large receiver marketplace. Smith-Njigba now not too lengthy in the past grew to turn into the NFL’s absolute top-paid large receiver after agreeing to a four-one yr, $168.6 million contract with the Seahawks. Total, 19 large receivers are earning at least $25 million in line with 365 days, whilst but every other 5 produce further the $20 million each and every frame yr. Plants now joins that community.