The Baltimore Ravens just can't catch a break at the quarterback position. Superstar Lamar Jackson finally made his injury return in Week 8 against the Bills. Unfortunately, that return only lasted just one snap. Lamar quickly exited the game after hitting his right hand on Bills defender Greg Rousseau on the Ravens' opening drive.
It did not take long after the game for reports to come out about Lamar's status. Jackson will need surgery on his thumb and it could end up being a season-ending injury. But even if Jackson is able to return this season, his absence could put the Ravens in a hole so deep they cannot climb out.
Meanwhile, veteran backup Tyler Huntley went down with a turf toe injury. That combination of injuries forced UDFA Joe Fagnano into action against Josh Allen. Unsurprisingly, that did not end well for Baltimore.
At this point, the prognosis on the rest of the 2026 season is pretty grim for the Ravens. However, the NFL trade deadline is coming up on November 10th. If the Ravens do not want to give up on the season, they need to start working the phones and find a way to land a new quarterback. That is much easier said than done, but the alternative is simply giving up halfway through the season.
Which quarterbacks could be available on the trade market? And of those guys, which ones would be an ideal fit for Baltimore?
Here are three quarterback trades the Ravens need to pursue ASAP after losing both quarterbacks to injury on Sunday.
Could the Ravens pry Geno Smith away from the Jets?
The Jets are one fascinating team to watch ahead of the trade deadline.
New York is 2-6 after a crushing loss to Las Vegas in Week 8. They are now 2-6 on the season and have a war chest of picks ready for the 2027 NFL Draft. The Jets should feel proud that they were competitive in several close games this season. But nobody really thought this was the season where they would become a winning team, right?
If New York is honest with themselves, they know their competitive years are in the future. So why hold onto a quarterback like Geno for longer than necessary just to play out a doomed season?
Admittedly, there's no way to know if the Jets will think rationally about this situation. After all, where's the guarantee that Aaron Glenn keeps his job if the team trades away the starting quarterback? Simply put, there are rational reasons why the Jets wouldn't entertain a Geno trade. That said, he would be an excellent trade candidate for Baltimore if he does become available.
Remember, Smith posted two 4,000-yard seasons in Seattle before Sam Darnold strolled into town. There is certainly a chance that Geno could do the same thing in Baltimore, especially with a strong supporting cast and coaching staff.
It would take some minor salary cap fiddling to find enough room to take on Smith's contract. That shouldn't stop the Ravens from picking up the phone, though.
Would the Raiders part ways with Kirk Cousins during Fernando Mendoza's rookie season?
This is probably a long shot, but it is worth at least checking up on.
Cousins is an excellent game manager, even at 38 years old. The veteran is continuing to play at a high level in 2026, already logging 2,124 passing yards with 19 touchdowns and five interceptions. His wealth of NFL experience could get the most out of a talented Ravens roster, which should put him on the radar for Baltimore.
However, the Raiders seem quite determined to hold onto Cousins as a mentor for rookie Fernando Mendoza. If the situation around Mendoza is not right, then Vegas won't put him into unnecessary risk. That is some impressive restraint from the Raiders, as long as they stick to that principle.
The Ravens may need to pay up to incentivize the Raiders to make a deal like this one. Perhaps a bigger deal involving both Cousins and Jackson Powers-Johnson, who is rumored to be available, could make something happen.
Either way, GM Eric DeCosta at least needs to check in on Cousins.
Jacoby Brissett's benching could be a big win for the Ravens
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The Cardinals pulled off a crazy overtime win against the Cowboys that could only happen in Dallas.
Putting aside all the wackiness in that contest, one of the biggest turning points for Arizona in that game was benching Brissett. The veteran quarterback struggled, going 10-of-23 for 119 yards and an interception. His replacement Gardner Minshew was given the same amount of attempts and spun them into gold. Minshew went 17-of-23 for 188 yards and three touchdowns. He was clearly the better option in Week 8.
Sunday's victory won't fool Arizona into thinking they're already a competitive team. But it could convince them that Brissett is not essential for the rest of the season.
If the Cardinals can wrap their heads around that reality, then suddenly Brissett becomes an interesting trade candidate. Especially if the Cardinals can get an excellent return for him from a desperate team like the Ravens.
Remember, Brissett threw for 3,366 passing yards with 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2025. He may not be an ideal fit in Mike LaFleur's offense, but he can still sling the ball.
Brissett is arguably the strongest option on this list, assuming Arizona does not demand too high of a price for him.