The Baltimore Ravens have had an interesting quarterback situation heading into the 2023 NFL season. With longtime starter Joe Flacco now playing for the New York Jets, the Ravens have turned to Lamar Jackson as their new quarterback of the future.
Lamar Jackson is the starter
As of October 2023, Lamar Jackson is firmly entrenched as the starting quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens selected Jackson with the 32nd overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. After starting the season as Joe Flacco’s backup, Jackson took over as the starter midway through the 2018 season. He proceeded to lead the Ravens to a 6-1 record down the stretch and helped Baltimore win the AFC North division title.
In his first full season as a starter in 2019, Jackson put up MVP-caliber numbers. He passed for 3,127 yards and 36 touchdowns while also rushing for 1,206 yards and 7 more scores. Jackson led the league with 36 touchdown passes and broke Michael Vick’s single-season rushing record for a quarterback. He became just the second unanimous MVP in NFL history behind Tom Brady.
With his dynamic dual-threat abilities, Jackson established himself as one of the most exciting young quarterbacks in the NFL. His success running the football has forced defenses to account for his mobility, opening up passing lanes downfield. The Ravens have tailored their offense around Jackson’s strengths, using run-pass option plays and zone read runs to maximize his impact.
Jackson is the long-term starter in Baltimore
When the Ravens drafted Jackson, incumbent starter Joe Flacco was still under contract through the 2021 season. Many speculated Jackson would serve as Flacco’s backup for a couple of seasons before taking over the starting role. However, Jackson’s immediate success forced the Ravens’ hand to make the switch earlier than expected.
Baltimore traded Flacco to the Denver Broncos in February 2019, just months after Jackson took over the starting job. This move solidified Jackson as the team’s quarterback of the future. The Ravens demonstrated their commitment to Jackson by exercising his fifth-year contract option for 2022.
Barring injury, Jackson is expected to be the Ravens’ starting quarterback for the foreseeable future. At just 24 years old, he potentially has another decade or more left in his career. With his athleticism and improving passing ability, Jackson’s ceiling remains incredibly high.
The Ravens will likely explore a long-term contract extension with Jackson in the near future. He has certainly played well enough to warrant a lucrative multi-year deal to remain in Baltimore. Keeping Jackson under center is clearly the Ravens’ top priority moving forward.
Jackson’s backups in Baltimore
With Jackson entrenched as the starter, the Ravens have worked to build depth behind him at quarterback. Here is a look at the quarterbacks who have served as Jackson’s primary backups:
| Year | Backup QB(s) |
|---|---|
| 2018 | Robert Griffin III, Joe Flacco |
| 2019 | Robert Griffin III |
| 2020 | Robert Griffin III, Trace McSorley |
| 2021 | Tyler Huntley, Trace McSorley |
| 2022 | Tyler Huntley, Anthony Brown |
Robert Griffin III was Jackson’s top backup from 2018-2020 and made a couple of spot starts when Jackson was injured or rested late in the season. However, Griffin departed in free agency after the 2020 season.
Trace McSorley, a 2019 sixth-round pick out of Penn State, has been on the roster as a third-string option the past three seasons. Tyler Huntley, an undrafted free agent in 2020, earned the QB2 job last season and made a couple of starts when Jackson missed time due to injury and illness.
With Huntley and McSorley hitting free agency after the 2022 season, the Ravens spent a 2022 seventh-round pick on Anthony Brown out of Oregon. He steps in as Huntley’s primary backup this year.
The Ravens have not invested heavily in the backup quarterback position because Jackson has been durable for most of his career. He missed just one start due to injury in his first three seasons. Having mobile quarterbacks like Griffin and Huntley serves as a good insurance policy if Jackson were to miss any time.
How Jackson fits into the Ravens’ offense
The Ravens’ offense has been tailored heavily towards Jackson’s dynamic, dual-threat skill set:
- Zone read runs and RPOs utilize Jackson’s quickness and running ability
- Bootleg passes allow Jackson to throw on the move
- Play action takes advantage of defenses keying on the run game
- Deep crosses and posts open up room downfield
Jackson is adept at making plays on the move and outside the pocket thanks to his speed and elusiveness. The Ravens use a lot of stretch runs, counters, and misdirection plays that allow him to use his athleticism.
While he’s certainly a pass-first quarterback, Jackson remains one of the league’s most dangerous rushers at the position. He provides an extra dimension with his scrambling ability that defenses must account for.
The vertical passing game opens up underneath routes across the middle for Jackson’s quick release. Tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely have developed into his favorite targets.
While the Ravens occasionally mix in more traditional drop back passes, the offense flows best when Jackson is on the move and utilizing his legs to make plays.
Jackson’s contract situation
Jackson is currently in the fourth year of his rookie contract after the Ravens exercised his fifth-year option for 2022. Here is a year-by-year breakdown of his current deal:
| Year | Base Salary | Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | $480,000 | $1,977,583 |
| 2019 | $910,529 | $2,657,883 |
| 2020 | $1,771,596 | $2,745,196 |
| 2021 | $1,771,596 | $3,384,796 |
| 2022 | $23,016,000 | $23,016,000 |
The significant cap hit in 2022 comes from the Ravens exercising Jackson’s fifth-year option, which is guaranteed for injury. He is now in line to potentially receive a long-term extension or franchise tag in 2023.
Jackson does not currently have an agent representing him. He represents himself in contract negotiations with the Ravens’ front office. This unique situation adds an interesting wrinkle to Jackson’s upcoming free agency.
By all accounts, Jackson and the Ravens both want to agree on a long-term extension to keep him in Baltimore. However, the two sides have been unable to reach a deal so far. The Ravens will likely use extensions for Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen as comparable benchmarks in negotiations.
Baltimore could use the franchise tag on Jackson in 2023 if a deal is not reached, which would pay him over $45 million for one year.
Jackson’s future outlook
At just 25 years old, Lamar Jackson appears to have a very bright future ahead. He has already accomplished so much early in his career:
- 2019 NFL MVP
- Offensive Player of the Year
- 2x Pro Bowler (2019, 2020)
- First-team All-Pro in 2019
- Most rushing yards by a QB in single season (1,206 in 2019)
- First player with 3,000 pass yards & 1,000 rush yards in multiple seasons
With Jackson under center, the Ravens have made the playoffs in 3 of his 4 seasons as starter. The expectations remain Super Bowl or bust moving forward.
As long as Jackson continues refining his passing ability, his ceiling truly has no limits. At his best, he is essentially unstoppable and defenses have no answer for his game-breaking talent.
However, critics have questioned whether Jackson can lead the Ravens to a championship after three straight early playoff exits. He will need to perform better in January to fully validate his regular season success.
Jackson should thrive in the Ravens’ creative offense for years to come. Baltimore is clearly all in on their young playmaker being the long-term face of the franchise. As long as he remains healthy, Jackson looks poised to contend for MVPs and championships over the next decade.
Conclusion
Lamar Jackson has firmly established himself as the Baltimore Ravens’ franchise quarterback. After taking over the starting job midway through 2018, Jackson has developed into one of the most dynamic players in the NFL. His rare dual-threat ability as both a dangerous rusher and precise passer makes him a perfect fit for the Ravens’ run-heavy offensive scheme.
With Jackson under contract through 2022, all signs point to him receiving a massive long-term extension to remain in Baltimore for the foreseeable future. At just 25 years old, his best football likely still lies ahead. If Jackson can lead the Ravens to a championship, he will validate his status as one of the most talented quarterbacks to ever play the game.
