Grade the Trade: Ravens add former Top 3 bust as backup in risky proposal

The Baltimore Ravens' backup quarterback situation behind Lamar Jackson could stand to improve. Between veteran greybeard Josh Johnson and sixth-round rookie Devin Leary, the odds of Baltimore competing without Jackson are minuscule. The Ravens are feeling the loss of Tyler Huntley.

The Ravens are not above making big moves late into the offseason, and the idea of trading for a better backup quarterback shouldn't be dismissed. The Dallas Cowboys have one such player who could feasibly be moved elsewhere in former top pick Trey Lance.

Lance remains somewhat of an unknown, as Tom Brady threw more passes in his final year with the Buccaneers than the former North Dakota State star has in high school, college, and the pros combined. With some potential still to be mined, the Ravens could possibly look to improve upon their current quarterback situation.

CBS Sports identified the Ravens as a team that could stand to improve upon their backup quarterback situation, with Lance being pitched as a possible solution. With Lance set to rot away with the Cowboys if no one saves him, the Ravens could give his career one last chance.

Grade the Trade: Baltimore Ravens urged to acquire Trey Lance from Cowboys

Lance, who is younger than Leary (somehow), was picked No. 3 overall by the San Francisco 49ers in 2019. However, due to his own injuries and the sudden meteoric rise of Brock Purdy, Lance was removed from Kyle Shanahan's future plans. Lance has been the third-string quarterback in Dallas behind Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush.

Teams like the Ravens should keep an eye on Lance, who remains a plus athlete with an arm that can launch it as far as any backup across the league. His skillset as a runner could appeal to Todd Monken, as part of what made Huntley so effective was the fact Baltimore didn't need to alter their style of play to accommodate him.

Lance is a hard-charging runner with more than enough physical talent to eventually become a competent starter. Rather than leaning on a player as old as Johnson or inexperienced as Leary, giving Lance a more reasonable opportunity could solve their issues.

While adding Lance would make it hard for Leary to do much of anything, his potential and fit in an offense that will task him with running the ball and stretching the field makes him a perfect backup quarterback for Jackson. WIth Huntley having been forced into service multiple times due to Jackson's injuries, getting Lance could make for a tremendous backup plan.

Grade: A