In the Hunt
- Lamar Jackson
- Josh Johnson
- Emory Jones (undrafted rookie)
- Devin Leary (rookie)
Projected Starter
After winning his second MVP, Jackson will have more on his plate entering Year 2 with Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken. Jackson had career bests in completion percentage (67.2) and passing yards (3,678) in 2023 and further solidified his status as one of the NFL's most dominant players.
However, at age 27, Jackson may have to raise his game another notch to reach his first Super Bowl. Jackson will use training camp and practice reps to gain sharpness for the regular season because he's unlikely to play during the preseason. The Ravens also expect Jackson to do more with cadence this year, something he displayed at mandatory minicamp as he drew the defense offsides on several occasions.
In 2023 while gaining comfort in Monken's system, Jackson enjoyed having more freedom to audible and to change routes and protections. Now that he knows the system, Jackson hopes to own it as he adds more layers to his game.
Best Battle
Head Coach John Harbaugh has named Johnson the No. 2 quarterback, so the best battle is Leary's bid to make the 53-man roster. If the sixth-round rookie plays well during the preseason and avoids turnovers, the Ravens may decide to protect themselves from losing Leary by including him on the 53. However, Leary will hurt his chances if he's inconsistent and throws too many interceptions. It's worth noting that teams can now make unlimited practice squad elevations for their emergency third quarterback.
Under the Radar
An undrafted rookie, Jones is looking to prove his worth as a potential NFL backup. That's what former Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley did as an undrafted rookie in 2020 when he made the practice squad. An impressive July and August from Jones could earn him an opportunity in Baltimore or elsewhere.
