OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Needing to add quarterback depth for the offseason as well as training camp, the Ravens officialy signed free-agent quarterback Caleb Hanie to a one-year deal on Tuesday.
The former Chicago Bears backup spent the 2012 season as the No. 3 signal caller for the Denver Broncos and started four games for the Bears in 2011 after starter Jay Cutler was injured. The 27-year-old has played in 10 games in his career, completing 59 of 116 passes for three touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
“We felt like it would be important to bring a quarterback in at this point in time in order to learn the offense from the ground up,” coach John Harbaugh said. “He’s a talented guy. He’s played in games, maybe hasn’t been in the ideal situation for him yet, but based on the evaluation of our pro department with [director of pro personnel] Vince Newsome and our coaches, they feel like he fit us pretty well.”
Much in the same way that the Ravens added former Indianapolis quarterback Curtis Painter last offseason, Hanie will provide another veteran arm during preseason workouts and will compete with backup Tyrod Taylor. However, Baltimore is pleased with the development of Taylor, so this move shouldn’t be perceived as a sign that the Virginia Tech product is on his way out after being drafted in the sixth round of the 2011 draft.
Painter was released at the end of the preseason last summer as the Ravens went with only two quarterbacks for the third straight year, but the Ravens are leaving the door open for a third-string quarterback if the need arises.
“I’m looking forward to seeing him,” Harbaugh said. “I don’t know him that well personally, but I can’t wait to get to know him as a player. And if he fits the bill, he could be our third quarterback.”
