OTL: Backup QB at the Forefront of Concerns?

With one preseason game in the books, it finally feels like we can get back into regularly-scheduled programming in terms of our football coverage. Unfortunately, with the good comes the bad, and over the last few days, the major storyline emerging from Friday’s preseason loss to the Eagles was the backup QB spot.

Knee-Jerk Reactions: Backup QB, Wiggins Shoulder Highlight Concerns

As we approached camp, there had been plenty of conversation about what the Ravens were going to do at QB2. With Tyler Huntley’s offseason departure to a division rival, Josh Johnson slid up the depth chart to compete with rookies Devin Leary and Emory Jones. The position was certainly more of an unknown, but Friday’s loss was lackluster through the air, to say the least. Fully acknowledging that this is probably an overreaction based a single game in preseason, a lot of pundits around the team began questioning whether the Ravens have enough at the backup spot.

What should the Ravens do at backup quarterback?

Is Josh Johnson their guy, or do they need to look elsewhere? pic.twitter.com/jas7soZ6zi

— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) August 11, 2024

It’s an interesting conundrum to have. Backup QB is one of those spots that you hope you never have to use, but one that does merit an investment. The problem is that the more you invest on your backup QB, the more that’s probably saying about your starter’s situation, or even your roster as a whole. Lamar Jackson is undeniably the starter here, and has performed at such a high level that there’s this feeling that, if LJ goes down, the season is pretty much over. I doubt that the coaching staff or the front office feel that way, but the roster construction almost does feel like all of the eggs are in the Lamar Jackson basket. The money that would need to be spent on a viable backup is needed for other positions on a championship-caliber team, so the backup position becomes one of their inevitable vulnerabilities.

Sure, there is at least one viable option out there in Ryan Tannehill as a free agent, but he has other suitors in the mix…

.@Davehydesports: It’s #Tua’s team, but Ryan Tannehill would help #Dolphins as insurance policy https://t.co/aN8gvGAIzD #NFL pic.twitter.com/bZgRIQLxvl

— SunSentinel Dolphins (@SSMiamiDolphins) August 12, 2024

…and his price point is likely way too high for the Ravens to be able to allocate the money they’d need to roster him. Outside of Tannehill, the free agent group is a little bleak, with veteran names like Brian Hoyer, Matt Barkley and A.J. McCarron in the mix. Knowing that the answer is likely name coming through free agency, EDC is likely watching the other QB rooms around the league during this preseason to see if there could be a diamond in the rough being waived. The Ravens have always been opportunistic in the second wave of free agency, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a late acquisition figure in as a potential answer to the problem.

In fact, if EDC was looking for a roster to poach from, the victim might just be a division opponent.

News from #Browns HC Kevin Stefanski
-DT Quinton Jefferson is fine after getting banged up Tuesday
-QBs Tyler Huntley & DTR will split remaining reps behind Jameis Winston Saturday evenly

— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) August 8, 2024

The notes there regarding Cleveland’s QB room suggest that Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Huntley are continuing to battle for the QB3 spot on the Browns. I highly doubt Cleveland plans to roster four QBs this season, so if Huntley hits the road, could the Ravens kick the tires on a reunion? I can’t speak to the relationship that the front office had with Huntley when he walked in free agency, so that could play into a decision, but he clearly knows the system and was at least a serviceable option within the offense. Alternatively, if DTR gets cut, his athletic profile lends itself to Baltimore’s system, and at worst, you can bring in a QB that now knows Cleveland’s offensive playbook. You could do a lot worse (see the free agent list above).

Here’s hoping that this becomes a bunch of hand-wringing over a position we won’t have to worry about in the first place. Everyone cross your fingers and toes that we see a full slate of healthy games from the MVP.