The Ravens and their backup quarterback have a deal.
Tyler Huntley will sign his restricted free agent tender on Monday, a source with direct knowledge of the agreement confirmed to The Baltimore Sun. The Ravens had placed a right-of-first-refusal tender on Huntley last month, which meant any team could have signed him to an offer sheet, and if Baltimore didn’t match, it wouldn’t get any compensation in return.
The 25-year-old will earn $2.627 million for the 2023 season before becoming a free agent.
The Ravens’ starting quarterback, Lamar Jackson, has yet to sign his $32.4 million nonexclusive franchise tag. Should he sign an offer sheet with another team, the Ravens can match it or choose to let the 2019 NFL Most Valuable Player walk in exchange for two first-round draft picks.
While the situation with Jackson remains unresolved, bringing back Huntley for what will be his fourth season in Baltimore provides at least some stability at the position. Anthony Brown, a rookie last season, is the team’s only other quarterback.
Over the past two years, Huntley has started nine games for the Ravens while Jackson was injured. That included last season’s AFC wild-card game against the Cincinnati Bengals, when Huntley had the ball knocked out of his hands by linebacker Logan Wilson on third-and-goal from the 1-yard-line early in the fourth quarter and watched defensive end Sam Hubbard return it 98 yards for the winning touchdown.
Huntley, who signed with Baltimore as an undrafted free agent out of Utah in 2020, has played in 15 regular-season games for the Ravens and proven to be a capable backup, completing 65.6% of his passes for 1,754 yards with five touchdowns and seven interceptions. He has also rushed for 454 yards and three scores.
Last season, Huntley was named to the Pro Bowl for injured Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen as the fourth alternate after completing 67% of his passes for 658 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions and rushing for 137 yards and a score in six regular-season appearances.
As for Jackson, the Ravens’ addition of wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. could help the sides come together on an agreement, though they have been unable to do so for the past two years. Jackson, who does not have an agent, on March 2 told the Ravens that he wants to be traded, five days before the team put the franchise tag on him.
The Ravens and Jackson have until July 17 to work out a long-term contract. After that, a new deal can’t be signed until after the season. Jackson could then play the 2023 season on the franchise tag or hold out.
While uncertainty around a long-term deal for Jackson remains, the Ravens at least know who their backup quarterback will be.
NFL Network first reported the deal.
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