Lamar Jackson Rumors: 5 QB contingency plans for the Ravens

Friday, the situation between the Baltimore Ravens and star quarterback Lamar Jackson went from bad to worse, and fans should definitely start planning for life without the former MVP.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler went on the air and told the sports world just where Baltimore stands right now, as it pertains to their quarterback situation. According to Fowler, the Ravens are "looking at basically the full spectrum of quarterbacks in this draft."

He mentioned that the team is in "full contingency mode" at this point in the game, which is not a good sign for Jackson's potential future in Baltimore. With that in mind, just what exactly would those contingency plans look like for the Ravens?

We've got five of them, right here, with some coming via the 2023 NFL Draft and others from still-unsigned free agents.

Ravens quarterback contingency plans for Lamar Jackson: Tanner McKee, Stanford

The first option for Baltimore, which wouldn't require a trade up in the first round, would be to draft Stanford's Tanner McKee in the second round. He's currently projected to go anywhere from the early second to early third, therefore the Ravens might have a shot at him by either trading back from 22 or trading up from 86.

Remember, the Ravens sent their second rounder to Chicago in exchange for Roquan Smith.

McKee is much different than Jackson, meaning that he is a true pocket passer. At 6-foot-6, he has excellent size and can see the field well. this helps with his accuracy and knowing where to place the ball. McKee is one of the better placers of the football in this draft, and doesn't commit a lot of turnover-worthy plays.

That is something, whether fans want to admit it or not, that Jackson struggled with at times. McKee could come in and compete with Tyler Huntley for the starting gig, if not sit for a year and be ready by 2024.

Ravens quarterback contingency plans for Lamar Jackson: Teddy Bridgewater, Free Agent

The second option Baltimore could look at is still sitting out there in free agency. Teddy Bridgewater has been one of the best contingency plans in the entire league, for a while now, and has helped multiple teams out of tough quarterback situations in the past.

In New Orleans, Bridgewater went 5-0 when he had to take over for Drew Brees back in 2019. That season, he threw for nine touchdwons to just two interceptions. In 2020, Bridgewater had a tough season in Carolina when he went 4-11, throwing 15 touchdowns to 11 interceptions. Then, starting 14 games for Denver in 2021, he went 7-7 and threw 18 touchdowns to just seven picks.

Last season in Miami, Bridgewater was in a tough spot and started two games, throwing four touchdowns and four picks in relieving Tua Tagovailoa. Although, Bridgewater was also banged up in 2022 as well.

Baltimore could look at Bridgewater as what most of his recent teams have brought him in to be: a backup, or bridge quarterback to the team's next franchise passer. He'd come cheap, and the Ravens could buy themselves a year before going after a rookie in 2024.

Ravens quarterback contingency plans for Lamar Jackson: Hendon Hooker, Tennesse

The second option Baltimore would have in the draft, without having to move up or worry about making some big, huge, trade is if they went after Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker.

This would be the perfect example of a quarterback coming in, sitting for a year and learning the offense behind Huntley. A year of development would be fantastic for Hooker, especially since he's likley to miss some time after suffering a torn ACL back in November.

At 6-foot-3 and 217 pounds, Hooker has prototypical size and gives the Ravens that dual-threat type that they're used to having in the building. Before getting hurt last season, Hooker was on pace to end the year as a legit Heisman candidate, finishing the season with 3,135 passing yards, 27 touchdowns and just two interceptions. He has also run for over 2,000 yards in the last four seasons with the Volunteers.

Hooker's biggest area to improve comes when there's pressure. He has to learn to keep his focus downfield and stand in the pocket, rather than immediately looking to run. That will come with time and the right coaching, though, and Hooker could end up being a phenomenal quarterback in this league. The raw talent is there, and he's a proven winner and leader.

Ravens quarterback contingency plans for Lamar Jackson: Carson Wentz, Free Agent

Try not to cringe, but Carson Wentz is a legitimate option for the Ravens right now. Look, if they lose Jackson and need to create some type of competition and depth with Huntley, then this is a low-risk signing.

Wentz is past the point of demanding any type of lucrative contract. His season in Washington last year was mediocre at best, and he even lost his job to Taylor Heinicke at one point. But, let's not forget, Wentz is just a year removed from a season which saw him pass for 3,563 yards, 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions with the Colts.

That wasn't a bad year for Wentz, but the offense was a bit dysfunctional.

Wentz is still only 30 years old and has had success in the past. He might have lost some of the mental game over the last few years, and some have questioned his leadership skills. But, if being a free agent for a few weeks has taught him anything, one could only hope that he takes his next opportunity very seriously.

Would Wentz beat Huntley for the starting gig? Maybe, maybe not. But, at the very least, he would give the Ravens some solid depth.

Ravens quarterback contingency plans for Lamar Jackson: Anthony Richardson, Florida

First of all, the Ravens won't end up with Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud. Those guys are going first and second overall, no matter what smoke and mirrors you choose to believe. Second, the Ravens should not go after Will Levis. He's not the type that fits this offense, and he's also well on his way to becoming the next Zach Wilson.

Now, Anthony Richardson on the other hand, is quite the tantalizing prospect for a team like Baltimore. Although, Baltimore would have to move up quite far in order to draft him.

Going from pick 22, the Ravens would likley have to move up inside the top 10, if not the top six picks. That would be costly, and would probably see the Ravens part with at least two first-round picks, if not three, to land him. Fortunately, they might end up netting two first-round picks from the Lamar Jackson situation, should they lose him to another team's offer sheet.

Richardson is a physical freak. He stands 6-foot-4, weighing in at 244 pounds and possesses a combination of size, strength and speed as a runner. But, that strength? It's in the arm, too. He's got arguably the biggest arm in the entire draft.

If the Ravens wanted to go from Lamar to a similar player with the same skillset, who might even be a better overall passer, then Richardson is their guy. It's a risk, sure, but could absolutely pan out.