Every day, the Ravens have to be grateful for Lamar Jackson. Not many teams get to build around a two-time MVP at quarterback, and whatever else Baltimore has been through, that alone keeps this era in a very good place.
That’s part of why the latest quarterback trade idea floating around feels so far-fetched. In SB Nation’s Jarrett Bailey’s 61 predictions for the 2026 season, he has Baltimore making a move for Minnesota Vikings third-year quarterback J.J.
McCarthy. The problem is simple: the Ravens don’t need him.
Baltimore already has a solid backup setup after Tyler Huntley re-signed for 2026, his sixth season in Charm City. After helping the team stay afloat in 2025, he gives the Ravens a reliable option if Jackson misses a game or two.
On top of that, the team is still sorting out its QB3 spot, with veteran Skyler Thompson possibly locking that down soon. Even then, there’s no guarantee Baltimore carries three quarterbacks on the active roster.
There just isn’t room for McCarthy.
Bailey does have one reasonable thread in his argument. He points to the connection with head coach Jesse Minter, who won a National Championship at Michigan with McCarthy in 2023.
That part makes sense on paper. But Baltimore has no real incentive to chase it.
The Ravens would be taking on McCarthy’s 2024 first-round contract, which is not a huge number, but it would still be money spent on a backup who would barely factor into the equation. They’d also have to give up a pick, and that’s not the kind of move Eric DeCosta is likely to make for a player who doesn’t clearly upgrade the roster.
And if Bailey’s predictions are meant to be a warning sign for Baltimore, the McCarthy idea is only the start. He also has the Ravens missing the playoffs again, and that leads to his 58th prediction: louder questions about Jackson’s future. Bailey wrote:
“After the Ravens come just shy of making the postseason in Year One of the Minter era, and for the second consecutive year, many wonder what the future holds for Lamar Jackson. The two-time MVP will enter the final year of his current deal in 2027. Does Baltimore look elsewhere at quarterback options and ship Jackson away?”
That paints a bleak picture for the Ravens’ quarterback situation, but it still doesn’t change the basic reality. Jackson is still without a contract, which is notable, but both sides appear interested in getting something done. Even if Baltimore somehow made the McCarthy move and stumbled through another underwhelming season, there’s still not much reason to think the Ravens wouldn’t extend Jackson.
So the bottom line stays the same: there’s no real path where McCarthy becomes a Raven. It’s a more believable idea for Minnesota, where Bailey sees them moving on and turning to Kyler Murray as the future franchise quarterback. For Baltimore, though, this just doesn’t add up.
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