The Ravens could be targeting an upgrade at backup quarterback.
Baltimore is one of several teams interested in signing former New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, according to multiple reports. The 27-year-old veteran is expected to become a free agent once he clears waivers Monday afternoon.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Ravens and Minnesota Vikings are two of the likeliest teams to land Jones, who reportedly wants to sign with a playoff contender. The Ravens, who are 7-4 and in second place in the AFC North, have a 97.4% chance to make the playoffs and a 18.7% chance to make the Super Bowl, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index. Other possible options for Jones include the San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins and Las Vegas Raiders.
Jones was benched by the Giants for third-string quarterback Tommy DeVito before being released Friday in a “mutually agreed” move to allow him to join another team before the end of the season, according to team owner John Mara. The 2019 first-round draft pick signed a four-year, $160 million contract in March 2023, but New York cut ties in part to avoid a $23 million injury guarantee if Jones did not pass a physical this upcoming offseason.
While the Ravens have two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson at quarterback, the options behind him are thin. The backup is 38-year-old journeyman Josh Johnson, who has not started a game since filling in for an injured Jackson in a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in 2021. Devin Leary, a rookie sixth-round draft pick who struggled in the preseason, is on the practice squad.
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Jones could join the practice squad, which means a team would not have to cut a player on its 53-man roster to sign him. For the Ravens, there’s also the appeal of a potential extra draft pick because Jones will count toward the compensatory free agent formula this offseason.
Although Jones had a rocky start to his career after being the surprising No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 draft, he enjoyed a bounce-back year in 2022 with coach Brian Daboll, leading the Giants to a playoff berth and a wild-card-round win over the Vikings. But after signing the extension, he struggled amid New York’s 1-5 start to the 2023 season and tore the ACL in his right knee in a Week 9 game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Giants entered this season with playoff expectations but have cratered to 2-8, tied for the league’s worst record. Jones has completed 63.3% of his passes for 2,070 yards with eight touchdowns and seven interceptions while rushing for 265 yards and two scores, ranking 26th in QBR and 28th in expected points added per play. For his career, Jones is 24-44-1 as the starter while passing for 14,582 yards with 70 touchdowns and 47 interceptions.
