A Ravens quarterback will apparently be signing his contract on Monday, but it’s not the one for which everyone is waiting.
According to NFL Network, backup signal-caller Tyler Huntley will sign his restricted free-agent tender worth $2.627 million for the 2023 season. Huntley didn’t appear to receive any serious interest elsewhere, which is often the case for restricted free agents as suitors aren’t keen on doing the legwork for an offer sheet that the original team could simply match. With Lamar Jackson’s status still unclear after the superstar quarterback requested a trade and received the non-exclusive franchise tag in early March, the Ravens will be pleased to have Huntley signed and taking part in spring workouts at the very least.
The fourth alternate for the Pro Bowl who ultimately played in the exhibition game for the AFC, Huntley made five starts — including the playoff loss at Cincinnati — and played extensively in a sixth game in place of the injured Jackson this past season. The 25-year-old completed nearly 67% of his passes and threw two touchdowns and three interceptions in the regular season, but his crucial goal-line fumble in the fourth quarter of the postseason defeat to the Bengals was a bitter way to end the 2022 campaign. Huntley, a former rookie free agent out of Utah, also made four starts in place of Jackson in 2021 and owns a 3-6 career record as a starter.
While many have pondered the impact of next week’s draft on Jackson and his future, how the Ravens proceed could greatly affect Huntley, whose salary for the upcoming season is not guaranteed. Should general manager Eric DeCosta take a quarterback at any point in the draft, Huntley could find his 2023 roster status in real jeopardy, especially with second-year quarterback Anthony Brown still on the current roster.
In other words, Huntley signing his tender and taking part in the offseason training program is a wise decision for his career.
