The Ravens’ quarterback situation has turned into a full-blown emergency, and the Broncos could end up as one of the few teams positioned to do something about it.
Baltimore has already put Lamar Jackson on IR after a season-ending thumb injury. Tyler Huntley is out for Thursday night with a toe injury, and rookie Joe Fagnano is expected to start despite dealing with an ankle injury of his own. That leaves the Ravens staring at a brutal short-term problem under center, and ESPN insider Adam Schefter recently said they could be looking for quarterback help.
That’s where Denver comes into the picture.
Schefter did not single out the Broncos as a team to watch for Baltimore, but the fit makes sense. The Ravens brought in Declan Doyle as offensive coordinator this year, and Doyle spent 2023-24 on Sean Payton’s Broncos staff as a tight ends coach. That connection matters, especially if Baltimore is hunting for a quarterback who can get up to speed quickly.
Jarrett Stidham is the obvious name here. He signed with Denver in 2023, which gives Doyle familiarity with him already, and that kind of existing relationship can matter a lot in a midseason trade. If the Ravens are trying to patch together a workable quarterback room right now, a player who knows the system, or at least the people involved, becomes more valuable.
Stidham also looks like the kind of affordable option Denver could actually consider moving. The Broncos have Sam Ehlinger on the active roster, and there were rumors this offseason that Ehlinger could take over the QB2 job anyway. If Denver feels good about Bo Nix’s ankle and Ehlinger’s ability to step in if needed, Stidham could become expendable.
There’s also a possible upside for Stidham himself. He’s in a solid backup role behind Bo Nix, but he’s set to hit free agency after the season. A strong stretch with a team like the Ravens could boost his market value in a hurry.
Whether Denver actually parts with anyone is another matter. The Broncos may be more inclined to keep their own depth intact at the deadline. Still, with Baltimore in such a tight spot, this is one move worth watching from both sides.
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J.K. Dobbins, meanwhile, was left with a much smaller footprint in the game plan, which only sharpened the questions about how the Broncos want to divide the work going forward. With the backfield hierarchy already worth watching, the possibility of Denver exploring another move at the position adds another layer to a situation that suddenly feels less settled than it did before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]