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The Baltimore Ravens have no question at the top of the quarterback depth chart.
Lamar Jackson remains the franchise centerpiece, and Tyler Huntley gives Baltimore a trusted backup with experience in the system and the athletic profile to keep parts of the offense intact if Jackson misses time. The intrigue entering training camp is behind them, where the Ravens must decide whether to keep a third quarterback on the 53-man roster or attempt to stash one on the practice squad.
That battle could come down to Skylar Thompson, Diego Pavia and Joe Fagnano.
Thompson should enter camp with the edge because of his NFL experience. He is in his fifth season, has made regular-season starts and gives Baltimore a more experienced option than the younger quarterbacks competing behind Jackson and Huntley.
For a team with Super Bowl expectations, that matters. The Ravens do not need a developmental quarterback to become a future starter. They need someone who can run practices, handle preseason snaps, stay ready in an emergency and protect the football if injuries force him into a game-day role.
Thompson’s path to the roster is straightforward. If he looks steady, avoids mistakes and shows enough command of Declan Doyle’s offense, he could give Baltimore a clean three-quarterback structure behind Jackson.
The Heisman Trophy finalist is the most intriguing developmental option because of his competitiveness, mobility and playmaking background. His style gives him some natural fit with a quarterback room built around Jackson and Huntley, even if no one is replicating Jackson’s rare skill set.
The question is whether Pavia can show enough as a passer to earn trust. Training camp and the preseason will be critical because he has to prove he can operate the offense on schedule, make quick decisions and avoid turning improvisation into negative plays.
If Pavia flashes, the Ravens could view him as a practice squad priority. If he consistently outplays Thompson and Fagnano, he could force a tougher conversation about the 53-man roster.
Fagnano enters as more of a long-shot roster candidate, but he still has a path to stick around if he shows command, accuracy and comfort running the offense. For quarterbacks competing at the bottom of the depth chart, consistency can matter more than splash plays.
His best chance is to show that he can process quickly, protect the ball and give the coaching staff clean preseason operation. Even if that does not lead to a spot on the initial 53-man roster, it could put him in position for a practice squad role.
The Ravens could keep three quarterbacks, but the decision will depend on roster math elsewhere. Baltimore has difficult calls at wide receiver, offensive line, edge rusher, defensive line and defensive back, and using a 53-man spot on a third quarterback would mean sacrificing depth at another position.
That is why Thompson’s experience gives him the clearest path. If the Ravens believe he is meaningfully ahead of Pavia and Fagnano, he could be worth keeping as QB3. If the gap is smaller, Baltimore may decide to keep Jackson and Huntley on the active roster and try to carry a developmental passer on the practice squad.
Thompson opens camp as the favorite to win the final quarterback spot because of his experience and readiness. Pavia is the name to watch if the Ravens prioritize upside and practice squad development, while Fagnano needs a strong preseason to remain in the conversation.
For Baltimore, this is not the roster’s loudest battle, but it matters. The Ravens are built around Jackson and have Huntley as insurance, but the final quarterback decision will reveal how much value the coaching staff places on experience, development and emergency depth entering a season with championship expectations.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens training camp battles: Evaluating the final roster spot at QB
Continue reading...
Lamar Jackson remains the franchise centerpiece, and Tyler Huntley gives Baltimore a trusted backup with experience in the system and the athletic profile to keep parts of the offense intact if Jackson misses time. The intrigue entering training camp is behind them, where the Ravens must decide whether to keep a third quarterback on the 53-man roster or attempt to stash one on the practice squad.
That battle could come down to Skylar Thompson, Diego Pavia and Joe Fagnano.
The favorite: Skylar Thompson
Thompson should enter camp with the edge because of his NFL experience. He is in his fifth season, has made regular-season starts and gives Baltimore a more experienced option than the younger quarterbacks competing behind Jackson and Huntley.
For a team with Super Bowl expectations, that matters. The Ravens do not need a developmental quarterback to become a future starter. They need someone who can run practices, handle preseason snaps, stay ready in an emergency and protect the football if injuries force him into a game-day role.
Thompson’s path to the roster is straightforward. If he looks steady, avoids mistakes and shows enough command of Declan Doyle’s offense, he could give Baltimore a clean three-quarterback structure behind Jackson.
The upside challenger: Diego Pavia
The Heisman Trophy finalist is the most intriguing developmental option because of his competitiveness, mobility and playmaking background. His style gives him some natural fit with a quarterback room built around Jackson and Huntley, even if no one is replicating Jackson’s rare skill set.
The question is whether Pavia can show enough as a passer to earn trust. Training camp and the preseason will be critical because he has to prove he can operate the offense on schedule, make quick decisions and avoid turning improvisation into negative plays.
If Pavia flashes, the Ravens could view him as a practice squad priority. If he consistently outplays Thompson and Fagnano, he could force a tougher conversation about the 53-man roster.
The sleeper: Joe Fagnano
Fagnano enters as more of a long-shot roster candidate, but he still has a path to stick around if he shows command, accuracy and comfort running the offense. For quarterbacks competing at the bottom of the depth chart, consistency can matter more than splash plays.
His best chance is to show that he can process quickly, protect the ball and give the coaching staff clean preseason operation. Even if that does not lead to a spot on the initial 53-man roster, it could put him in position for a practice squad role.
Roster outlook
The Ravens could keep three quarterbacks, but the decision will depend on roster math elsewhere. Baltimore has difficult calls at wide receiver, offensive line, edge rusher, defensive line and defensive back, and using a 53-man spot on a third quarterback would mean sacrificing depth at another position.
That is why Thompson’s experience gives him the clearest path. If the Ravens believe he is meaningfully ahead of Pavia and Fagnano, he could be worth keeping as QB3. If the gap is smaller, Baltimore may decide to keep Jackson and Huntley on the active roster and try to carry a developmental passer on the practice squad.
Prediction
Thompson opens camp as the favorite to win the final quarterback spot because of his experience and readiness. Pavia is the name to watch if the Ravens prioritize upside and practice squad development, while Fagnano needs a strong preseason to remain in the conversation.
For Baltimore, this is not the roster’s loudest battle, but it matters. The Ravens are built around Jackson and have Huntley as insurance, but the final quarterback decision will reveal how much value the coaching staff places on experience, development and emergency depth entering a season with championship expectations.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens training camp battles: Evaluating the final roster spot at QB
Continue reading...
