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The Ravens solidified the future of their defensive front Thursday when they agreed to a three-year contract extension with nose tackle Travis Jones.

The deal keeps the 26-year-old in Baltimore through 2028 and is reportedly worth $40.5 million, with $25 million guaranteed, according to NFL.com.

Jones said he plans to use the money to buy his mom, Jocelyn Ward, a house. He also announced that Ward, who was in attendance for his signing, has not had to work since he was drafted.

“I really just want to take care of my mom, sisters and my nephew and niece,” Jones said. “So now I’m in a stable situation to do that for them.”

He said his representatives and the team had been talking about the extension for a week or two, although he lets his agent handle the numbers conversation. Thursday morning, the price and contract term felt right.

“‘Big Trav’ is an ascending player, and having him continue to man the middle of our defense is very exciting,” Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said in a statement.

His contract value ranks 25th among interior defensive linemen in 2026, according to Spotrac. It ranks 26th in total guaranteed money.

The Ravens’ third-round pick in 2022, Jones is in his fourth season and second as a full-time starter.

Jones would have been a free agent in 2026, but according to The Athletic, he was considered to have only three accrued years under the league’s collective bargaining agreement, which would have made him a restricted free agent in the offseason.

According to ESPN, Jones lost an accrued season for failing to report to training camp by the mandatory date.

The NFL Players Association filed a grievance on his behalf, and the hearing was set for Thursday.

But the Ravens met with his agent before the hearing and agreed to the extension, according to The Athletic, making Jones’ 2026 status irrelevant.

Last year, Jones played a huge role in the Ravens’ run-stuffing defense that led the league in allowing the fewest yards per carry (3.6).

The defensive front took an early hit in 2025 when Nnamdi Madubuike suffered a season-ending injury.

Following Week 2’s win over the Cleveland Browns, Madubuike showed symptoms of what was later ruled a neck injury, according to coach John Harbaugh.

The Ravens said in late September that Madubuike would be out for the year, and they have not provided updates on his long-term outlook. Madubuike drew a lot of double teams, and his absence has had a major effect on the pass rush and run defense.

“‘Beeks’ is a great one, one of the best D-tackles in the league,” Jones said. “With Beeks going down, I just had to step up. I feel like I could have did more. A lot of work to do, but I feel like I did all right.”

Although the numbers are not as impressive as last year’s, Jones, along with a number of veterans who have stepped into larger roles, has kept the Ravens’ run defense stout. They’ve allowed fewer than 100 rushing yards in five games, including 34 rushing yards in Sunday’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“I think Travis Jones is one of the most underrated defensive linemen in the National Football League for what he does, the amount of snaps he plays; he’s a force in there,” defensive coordinator Zach Orr said. “He can play the nose, can play the three technique, can play the five technique. I think, the second half of the season, he’s really amped up his production and his impact. I know everybody on defense is excited.”

This season, Jones has 34 tackles, five quarterback hits and 1.5 sacks. Pro Football Focus has given him an overall grade of 74.5 — 14th among interior defensive linemen — with a 76.2 grade in run defense. He said the next step is improving his pass rush.

Jones is the second pending free agent the Ravens have extended in the last two weeks. They agreed to a three-year extension with tight end Mark Andrews on Dec. 3.

Many members of the Ravens’ defensive front will be free agents in 2026. Veterans John Jenkins and Brent Urban, along with C.J. Okoye, a young International Pathway Player who earned his way onto the active roster, are set to hit the market. The contracts of outside linebackers Kyle Van Noy and Dre’Mont Jones are also up after this season.

This article has been updated.