The Baltimore Ravens are 4-4 and facing a quarterback crisis after Lamar Jackson was placed on injured reserve following thumb surgery on his throwing hand. Backup Tyler Huntley also suffered a toe injury, forcing undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano into action against the Buffalo Bills.
With the NFL trade deadline approaching, Baltimore must decide whether to stick with its current quarterback room or seek external help. One name that has surfaced is Chicago Bears backup Tyson Bagent, according to Pro Football Talk. However, acquiring Bagent "won't be cheap," with Chicago Tribune reporter Brad Biggs suggesting in February that it could take a second-round pick or equivalent compensation.
Why Bagent makes sense for Baltimore
Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle spent last season in Chicago in the same role and worked directly with Bagent. Doyle praised Bagent's professionalism and football intelligence. Because Doyle helped implement elements of Ben Johnson's offense in Chicago before bringing them to Baltimore, Bagent would have familiarity with the system's concepts, including pre-snap motion, play-action, and formation versatility.
Historical context on trading for unproven quarterbacks
An analysis of quarterback trades since 2007 involving players with 10 or fewer career starts shows mixed results. Success stories include Matt Schaub (traded for two second-round picks in 2007) and Jimmy Garoppolo (traded for a second-round pick in 2017), both of whom became long-term starters. However, many other trades — such as those for Trey Lance, Joshua Dobbs, and Jacoby Brissett — yielded limited returns. Of 10 such trades examined, only five resulted in the quarterback starting at least eight games for the new team, and just three made 16 or more starts.
Can the Ravens survive without Jackson?
Data from 2015-2025 shows that 41 teams above .500 after losing their starting quarterback saw their backups go 55-82, yet 24 still made the playoffs. However, playoff probability drops sharply with the length of the starter's absence: 67.9% when the backup starts 1-3 games, 38.5% for 4-6 games, and 16.7% for seven or more starts. The Ravens are not currently above .500, but the principle remains — a short-term replacement is more feasible than a long-term one.
Chicago values Bagent as Caleb Williams' backup and has him under contract through 2027, giving the Bears leverage. Baltimore may need to consider alternatives, such as recently demoted Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett. The Ravens also signed Austin Reed, another quarterback who worked with Doyle in Chicago, to their practice squad.
Ultimately, Baltimore must decide whether to pay a premium for a quarterback who could keep the season alive until Jackson returns, or risk the season with its current options.
