The Baltimore Ravens sit at 4-4 after losing starting quarterback Lamar Jackson to injured reserve following thumb surgery on his throwing hand. Jackson had already missed three games with a high-ankle sprain and suffered the thumb injury on his first play back against Buffalo. Backup Tyler Huntley also left that game with a toe injury, forcing undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano into action. With the NFL trade deadline approaching, Baltimore must decide whether to trust its current quarterback room or seek external help.
Bagent emerges as a familiar target
According to Pro Football Talk, the Ravens could explore trading for Chicago Bears backup Tyson Bagent, though acquiring him "won't be cheap." Chicago Tribune reporter Brad Biggs suggested in February that a second-round pick or equivalent compensation might be required. Bagent, a former undrafted free agent from Division II Shepherd University, has six career starts with three touchdowns and nine interceptions. The connection is strengthened by offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, who worked directly with Bagent in Chicago last season. Doyle praised Bagent's professionalism and noted his familiarity with the offensive concepts Doyle brought from Chicago, including pre-snap motion and play-action versatility.
Historical precedent for trading unproven quarterbacks
An analysis of quarterback trades since 2007 involving players with 10 or fewer starts shows mixed results. Notable successes include Matt Schaub (traded for two second-round picks in 2007, became a seven-year starter) and Jimmy Garoppolo (acquired for a second-rounder in 2017, went 5-0 down the stretch and finished 38-17 as a starter). Other deals yielded less: Jacoby Brissett started 30 games for Indianapolis (31 TDs, 13 INTs), Trey Lance started once for Dallas after a fourth-round trade, Joshua Dobbs was traded three times with a 1-8 record as a starter, and Malik Willis went 2-1 with six touchdowns and zero interceptions for Green Bay after a seventh-round swap. Only five of the 10 trades led to the quarterback starting at least eight games; just three produced 16 or more starts.
Backup performance and playoff odds
Data from 2015-2025 shows that 41 teams above .500 after losing their starter saw backups go 55-82, yet 24 still made the playoffs, 12 won a postseason game, and four won the Super Bowl. However, playoff probability drops sharply with the length of the starter's absence: 67.9% made the playoffs when the backup started 1-3 games, 38.5% for four or more starts, and just 16.7% for seven or more. The Ravens are not currently above .500, and Jackson's recovery timeline remains uncertain, making the duration of any replacement's role critical.
Valuation and alternatives
Based on history, a fourth-round pick might seem reasonable for Bagent, but Chicago values him as Caleb Williams' backup and has him under contract through 2027, giving them leverage. An alternative could be Arizona Cardinals third-stringer Jacoby Brissett, whose experience and current depth-chart status might make him available. The Ravens also recently signed Austin Reed to the practice squad; he, too, worked with Doyle in Chicago. Baltimore must weigh whether to pay a premium for a quarterback who could bridge the gap until Jackson returns or pursue a more cost-effective option.
