State of the Ravens: Quarterbacks

Welcome to State of the Ravens 2024! In this article series, which I plan to make annual, we’ll examine both the current outlook and the franchise’s three-year plan for each position group every weekday for the next two weeks. This week will be offense, and next week we’ll study Zach Orr’s defense.

It’s only natural to start this year’s report with the most important position on the field: quarterback. Obviously, the Ravens are set at QB1 with 2-time MVP Lamar Jackson, but the backup situation is actually very intriguing. Let’s start by taking a look at who will probably be on the roster.

Depth Chart

Lamar Jackson — Josh Johnson — Devin Leary

It’s given that Jackson will be at the helm this season, but we’ll likely see a very different Lamar than the one we’ve been treated to over the past two seasons. One of the top storylines of the offseason is that he’s apparently slimmed down to 205 pounds, sparking debates in league circles about whether this is actually a good decision. There are clear-cut benefits to “slim Lamar”: he’ll obviously be much faster (as teammate Isiah Likely noted) and likely more elusive. Plus, he was around that weight when he set the league on fire in his 2019 campaign. Some believe the decision stems from the play where he caught his own pass in the AFC Championship; if he was just a step faster, he probably would’ve taken it all the way. A faster Jackson combined with the addition of Derrick Henry makes the dangerous read-option play all the more dangerous, and Lamar will now be free to make more outside runs—where he really thrives. Furthermore, he’ll now no longer need to take the ball for worrisome inside carries, instead leaving those to the King.

As great as that sounds, there are also significant downsides to Lamar’s skinnier frame—chief among them is the increased injury risk. Jackson suffered season-ending injuries in 2022 and 2023, sending both seasons completely off the rails. And there’s legitimate concern that being so much smaller and lighter than before is only a recipe for disaster. This team needs Jackson more than another franchise needs its quarterback; if he’s out, the Ravens, in all likelihood, are out too. It remains to be seen how this new version of LJ will affect the season’s outcome, but one thing’s for sure: this is a high-risk, high-reward type of move.

In the case Jackson does get hurt, though, who takes over? It’s all but guaranteed that Josh Johnson will be QB2. And, while the 38-year-old journeyman possesses nowhere near the athletic prowess of Lamar (to be fair, few do), he is a solid game-manager. Quarterbacks coach Tee Martin had high praise for Johnson, even going so far as to say that he’s “aging backwards.” Yet, it’s hard to imagine someone of his age sticking around in the league for much longer, which is where Devin Leary comes into the picture. Leary, a 6th-round rookie out of Kentucky, is certainly a polarizing prospect. Despite his raw talent, he’s often erratic, which is why many were surprised when the Ravens took him. Although he’s gotten limited reps in OTAs and minicamp, initial reports about his progress have been positive.

Leary will have to prove that he’s the QB2 of the future, but he’ll have to spend this season third in the pecking order. That forces DeCosta to make a tough decision: should he carry 3 passers on the 53-man roster or try to stash Leary on the practice squad and pray another team doesn’t pick him up? As talented as he is, I don’t really see how the Ravens can justify keeping a third quarterback around—and a rookie at that. Judging from the lack of practice opportunities, he, in all likelihood, will probably be a PS player for this year. But I still think there’s a solid chance that he sticks in Baltimore throughout the season.

Three-Year Plan

Lamar is QB1, no doubt. Josh Johnson will sit behind him this year and battle for QB2 next season, potentially with Devin Leary—if no one poaches him from the practice squad. If Leary’s gone, expect DeCosta to take a quarterback with a skillset more similar to that of Lamar in the 2025 Draft.

Thanks for tuning into the first installment of 2024’s State of the Ravens! Check back tomorrow for coverage of one of this team’s deepest and most exciting position groups: running back.

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