John Harbaugh Makes Big QB Signing Days After Lamar Jackson’s Strong Contract Demand From Ravens Front Office

The Baltimore Ravens are one of the few clubs that look to have their QB position solved. But it is not to say that the Ravens aren’t walking on thin ice. Thanks to their starting QB Lamar Jackson, who hasn’t missed a game due to injury since the end of the 2022 season, they haven’t really felt the need to play their backup quarterbacks much in recent years. And what about the games that he didn’t start? Well, if stats are anything to go by, the Ravens are 4-10, including playoffs over the last six seasons. Jackson needs his backup, and so, the franchise has made a move to bring in a trusted hand to get past the playoff hump.

On Sunday, Equity Sports announced that former Dallas Cowboys QB Cooper Rush, 31, has reached an agreement with the Ravens. The detailed breakdown and terms of the agreement were not disclosed but the source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Jeremy Fowler that it’s a two-year $12.2 million contract that includes $4.2 million guaranteed. He’ll replace the 38-year-old Josh Johnson who threw three passes in six games last season. What’s interesting is Cooper decided to walk away from Dallas after eight long seasons. Although we don’t have the answers to why, rumors tell us that this was a bad breakup.

Call it disrespect or sheer coincidence, but toward the end of the last season, the Cowboys decided to deploy Trey Lance in Week 18 after Rush started every game for Dallas from Week 10 onwards, thanks to Dak Prescott’s season-ending hamstring tear the week prior. Now why’s that an argument to begin with? Apparently, owing to the Trey switch, Rush couldn’t hit his full playtime incentive clause in his contract. A good amount of $250,000 never made it to the bank as a result. On the flip side, there could be his performance in the eight games he played last season to also account for. Here’s how he fared:

• With Rush starting the games between Weeks 10 to 17, the Cowboys were 4-4.
• He averaged 209.6 passing yards and completed 61.3% of his passes.
• He has an 11-4 TD-to-INT ratio, tying for 17th in the league with 2024 MVP winner Josh Allen.
• He posted career highs in passing yards (1,844) and touchdowns (12) in the 2024-25 season.
• His passer rating, however, is only 86.6 which is ranked 25th among the league’s 32 qualified QBs.

Rush’s departure also leaves an opening in Dallas for a new backup to Prescott. With Rush off the market and Trey Lance also a free agent, it’s relevant to ask who’d be filling in as Dak’s primary backup. In fact, Dallas COO also has some plans in place.

The only other backup left on the roster is Will Grier, who split last season between the Eagles and Cowboys practice squads. Dallas COO and co-owner Stephen Jones said last month the team will likely look at selecting a quarterback in April’s draft.

After Mike McCarthy became the head coach in 2020, the Cowboys signed veteran Andy Dalton and Rush was released. He rejoined the Cowboys after a short stint .

Top Comment by Jjeagles

No he is not the right fit

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In 2021, Cooper—who initially signed with the Cowboys in 2017 as an undrafted free agent, was released in 2020 upon Mike McCarthy’s arrival until resuming again after a short stint with the New York Giants following Prescott’s season-ending dislocated and fractured right ankle—won the backup job and held the role for the past three seasons. In 2023, he opted to sign a two-year deal with the Cowboys over testing the free agency.

The team already appears to be stacked with significant signings such as Ben Cleveland, Keith Kirkwood, and Anthony Miller. This season, John Harbaugh is undoubtedly forming the starting lineup around his quarterback. And a recent social media interaction of Jackson indicates that he is probably also looking for that.

What Lamar Jackson is waiting for?

Even if you are the best in the world, there are moments when you just want to relax. While John Harbaugh has been developing the squad around Jackson, some stunning images of the QB have surfaced online. Jackson was seen eating a huge pizza by himself. Man! That’s a massive treat.

Everyone was surprised to see Jackson’s diet like this, even if it is offseason. Jackson responded to the post, noting the photos are from last year, and left a tacit message for the front office. “This was Last yr…… lol I’m waiting like everyone else,” he wrote in his post. Well, the Ravens faithful know that Jackson needs some potent weapons. So what going on the inside the Ravens?

For starters, in the free agency class this year, there are not enough options in the way of high-end talent. The Ravens have a reputation of being judicious about paying players, and this offseason looks no different. Going by general manager Eric DeCosta’s comments during the combine last month, this looks like a well-thought-out plan.

“I mean, you guys know the Ravens. [It has to be] the right player [and] right price. We don’t have a lot of cap room. We have [vice president of football administration] Nick Matteo working tirelessly to find some space for us. We call it ‘couch cushion coins.’ We’re trying to find 50 grand here, 75 grand there and a couch cushion. But we’re not a team that’s going to make a lot of splashes, generally speaking,” DeCosta told the reporters.

The Ravens had about $12.2 million in salary cap space at the start of free agency. After re-signing of Ronnie Stanley to a three-year, $60 million deal on Saturday, they are now looking at $7.5 million in effective cap space. Hence, the moves have been limited from the front office in signing new players to equip Jackson.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the Ravens have signed DeAndre Hopkins to a one-year deal, worth $6 million. It might be quite a sum for a 12-month period but it provides Jackson with one of the best wide receivers of the modern era. Notably, Jackson had requested to sign Hopkins two years ago.

Meanwhile the organization is also attempting to renegotiate Jackson’s deal so that they can have a presence in the NFL Draft. The Ravens signed the QB on a $260 million over five years with $185 million guaranteed in 2023. Jackson is already signed through the 2027 season and an extension straightaway might not happen. The team doesn’t need to offer a contract to their QB right about now. But looking at their cap space situation, they could restructure the deal. What you think about the Ravens’ cap situation? And do you think John Harbaugh’s plans will work?