The Ravens made a roster move this week, but the quarterback situation is still the part worth watching.
Diego Pavia was waived to clear space for new starting center Ethan Pocic, and that part of the transaction was framed as little more than a formality. The more interesting name already in the building is Skylar Thompson, a quarterback who has not taken a snap for the organization and still seems to be flying under the radar.
A lot of fans may not even realize Thompson is on the roster, but he’s the one who could actually matter if the Ravens need another arm in the room. He has never been treated like a headline player, yet there’s a belief that he can function in a pinch and bring enough athletic ability to at least pressure Snoop Huntley, even if the expectation is that Thompson is there to serve as QB 3.
The timing makes that possibility more intriguing. The Ravens now have a rookie head coach in Jesse Minter and an offensive coordinator in Declan Doyle who just turned 30 and has never called a play before. That kind of reset can open doors, and it’s possible Doyle will take a real look at Thompson.
Huntley’s return was clearly tied to the organization’s comfort level with him, but this is a different offense and a different learning curve. He has already had some rough moments in Baltimore, even in a system he knew well, and after the home loss to Pittsburgh, it seemed like the end of the line. Instead, he came back last year when Cooper Rush struggled badly, handled the opportunity, and earned another contract.
Still, this transition may not be seamless. Thompson brings his own case to the table.
He is mobile, was a four-time captain in college, and is entering what should be his prime as a 2022 draft pick, even if he came into the league at 25. He has played in big games and playoff games, and while he is not the kind of quarterback who is going to light up the sideline with deep shots, he is tough, accurate on short and intermediate throws, and capable of putting touch on the long ball.
That skill set fits what the Ravens are expected to lean into. Thompson should be comfortable with the under-center and play-action concepts that are expected to show up in a big way in this offense.
The broader reality is that backup quarterback play can swing wildly from year to year, and Thompson has already shown enough in preseason games to suggest he belongs in the conversation. At the very least, he looks like useful depth.
And while Huntley has the advantage of familiarity and support inside the building, Thompson may be better than people think. If anything happens to Lamar Jackson, the season changes in an instant.
But Thompson is probably a little better than you think.
In Other News...
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For Baltimore fans, the latest headline lands as part of a broader pattern rather than an isolated lapse. Cleveland has already been linked to previous substance-abuse, divorce and DUI-related issues, and this new incident only deepens the concern around a player whose football future has repeatedly been overshadowed by what has happened away from the field. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Fans Have Every Right To Be Furious Over This Disrespect
Baltimore spent the offseason trying to answer the same questions that have lingered for years, and it did so with a coaching shakeup led by Jesse Minter and a clear effort to shore up the pass rush and interior offensive line. Those moves were meant to support a roster that still has young talent and a franchise quarterback at the center of everything, which is why the latest wave of outside skepticism landed with such a thud.
Jarrett Bailey of SB Nation went well beyond a cautious take, forecasting a season that would leave the Ravens out of the playoffs and end with another Week 18 loss to Pittsburgh. Add in the broader disrespect already hovering around Lamar Jackson, from his placement on the NFLs Top 100 list to Colin Cowherd leaving him off a top-10 quarterback list, and it is easy to see why Baltimore fans are bristling at the idea that this team is being judged more on narrative than on what it actually changed this offseason. [Read more 🡒]