Ryan Mallet is an important assest that the Baltimore Ravens need to bring back for next season
For the Baltimore Ravens, a backup quarterback is rarely used. Since Joe Flacco was drafted in 2008, the Ravens have only used a backup quarterback once. That kind of durability from the quarterback position is not appreciated enough, especially in Baltimore. Behind Flacco there are two quarterback options: Ryan Mallet and Dustin Vaughan. Mallet is set to be a free agency this offseason and the Ravens need to highly consider bringing him back.
Mallet began his career with the New England Patriots and Houston Texans before coming to the Ravens. He was brought in to Baltimore in December of 2015 to finish off an abysmal season for the Birds. Joe Flacco had suffered a major knee injury and backups Jimmy Clauson and Matt Schaub were playing poorly. Mallet came in and went 1-1 with two touchdowns and two interceptions in his two starts. The win came against the rival Pittsburgh Steelers. The contract Mallet originally signed was for two years and he spent last season behind Joe Flacco.
Experienced Insurance Policy
99% of the time, when a starting quarterback goes down, there is a drop in production from the backup. As we saw from the Dallas Cowboys in 2015, you can have good pieces around you, but if you cannot throw the ball, then there is problems. Quarterbacks like Brandon Weeden and Kellen Moore are backups for a reason. For the Ravens, they are lucky to have an experienced backup in Ryan Mallet. Many backups try to come on the field and replicate the starter, but Mallet knows what he can do. He is a five year veteran who knows how to conduct himself on the field.
According to Ravens staff writer Ryan Mink, here is why the Ravens should consider keeping Mallet:
"Mallett has spent more than a year with Ravens Offensive Coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, so he would be capable of stepping in and running the offense if called upon. That kind of familiarity is comforting to have in a backup. Mallett, a 2011 third-round pick, has matured on and off the field. He’s a strong-armed, big-bodied quarterback in the same mold as Flacco. He may come cheaper than some of the more experienced veterans on the market, but, with eight starts under his belt, is further along than a rookie."
The Bottom Line
It does not matter if you have Tom Brady or RGIII under center, it is always important to have a good backup quarterback. Mallet is one of the more experienced backups that you will be able to find in the NFL. Like Mink said, Mallet is very experienced and his familiarity with the offense is a plus.
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The Ravens should definitely consider drafting a quarterback, but whoever it is must have time to develop. It would not be beneficial to make a rookie quarterback the second man behind Flacco, especially if the Ravens are waiting to draft one in the later rounds. Eventually the Ravens will have to move on from Joe Flacco, but he still has plenty of time left. He still has five years left on his contract and even if he plays poorly, there is no chance the team will move him. There is too much money left on the table. Mallet is a great insurance policy that the Ravens need to keep for the 2017 season.