The Baltimore Ravens are in dire straits with their quarterback depth chart halfway through the 2026 NFL season. Their record has dropped to 4-4 after losing three consecutive games, and they have fallen into last place in the AFC North.
Two-time MVP Lamar Jackson, who missed three games with a high ankle sprain, suffered a thumb injury early in the Week 8 blowout loss at Buffalo that will land him on injured reserve with a good chance to miss the rest of the season. Backup Tyler Huntley (turf toe) is bound to miss multiple games after also getting hurt against the Bills.
Emergency third QB Joe Fagnano, an undrafted rookie, had to relieve both veterans, giving the Ravens no chance to generate enough offense to beat the Bills, especially with their defense struggling.
The Ravens need to turn around and face the 5-2 AFC South-leading Jaguars at home on Thursday night to open Week 9, leaving them scrambling for any answer at the most important position to be at least competitive in that game. Huntley also hasn’t played well filling in for Jackson in Declan Doyle’s offense.
When going outside of Baltimore, here are the top options for Ravens to address QB in a trade this week, before the league-wide Nov. 10 deadline.
MORE: Why Ravens’ Super Bowl hopes are doomed with Lamar Jackson injury
Ravens’ 6 best replacement QBs for Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley
Jacoby Brissett
The Cardinals‘ starter for much of the past two seasons shoots to the top of the list after he was benched in Sunday’s Week 8 game at Dallas. Veteran backup Gardner Minshew came in to lead an epic comeback, with promising rookie Carson Beck still waiting in the wings.
Brissett is a quick study in many offenses and can at least give their passing game a boost so that defenses stay honest against Derrick Henry and the running game. Brissett is under contract only through this season. Arizona must seize this opportunity to get a draft asset.
Tyson Bagent
The Bears want to be aggressive at the trade deadline and the Ravens’ predicament gives them a shot at getting fair return for their No. 2 QB. Bagent also would be reuniting with Doyle, who was Chicago’s offensive coordinator under Ben Johnson last season. Bagent can be competent in the system to put the Ravens in some positions to win games.
Anthony Richardson
The Ravens should call to inquire about Richardson for the hard-selling Colts. In this scenario, Baltimore would get the rushing element of Jackson back to work with Doyle. At worst, it’s a low-risk move that won’t cost the Ravens much for a half-season evaluation. At best, Richardson develops into a better long-term backup for Jackson.
MORE: 8 running backs who stole the show in Week 8
Marcus Mariota
The Commanders love Mariota as their super-sub for oft-injured Jayden Daniels, but they also should be selling for draft assets at the deadline. Washington could move the pending 33-year-old free agent across the beltway to Baltimore and roll with rookie seventh-rounder Athan Kaliakmanis as the No. 2 to fill should Daniels get hurt again.
Jalen Milroe
The Seahawks should take advantage of this situation to further boost their team during the trade deadline. Sam Darnold is struggling with his interceptions but Seattle knows it has a sharp backup in Drew Lock. Milroe has that athletic element to be Richardson-like intriguing to develop as a long-term backup to Jackson.
Shedeur Sanders
The Browns have made an unofficial declaration that they will trade neither Sanders nor Dillon Gabriel behind Deshaun Watson, with whom they are 5-3 this season under former Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken. At one point, the Ravens were most attached to drafting Sanders last year and he wanted the chance to shadow Jackson. It’s weird to make an interdivision trade in some respects, but the Browns did it last October by trading Joe Flacco to the Bengals and can’t ignore desperation by rivals to get a draft pick.
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