Cook’s Top 5: Baltimore Ravens Quarterbacks

Steve Cook continues his journey throughout the NFL with a look at the Top 5 Quarterbacks in the history of the Baltimore Ravens!

Welcome back to our look at the Top 5 Greatest Quarterbacks for each NFL team! Today we’re covering a team that’s found a great deal of success in its twenty-five years as an NFL franchise. The Baltimore Ravens have won two Super Bowls during their time in Baltimore, and after a bumpy first couple of years have almost always been in contention with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the title of Kings of the AFC North.

However, there is one caveat to the Ravens’ success. Up until the late 2000s. consistent quarterback play was hard to find. In fact, the defense has almost always been Baltimore’s strong point, which is great for winning championships but not so great when I’m trying to find quarterbacks for a list.

Nevertheless, here are the 5 Greatest Quarterbacks in Baltimore Ravens history!

5. Trent Dilfer

The 2000 Ravens seemed to have a ton of potential. Their defense was absolutely lights out, shutting teams down left & right. There was only one problem: the offense! The Ravens had been unable to score an offensive touchdown in four straight games when it was decided that they needed a change.

Tony Banks took a seat & Trent Dilfer came in. Dilfer’s tenue in Tampa Bay was largely forgettable, and he was only signed by Baltimore because they needed “somebody” as a backup. Game 1 of the Dilfer Era looked like more of the same was coming when they lost 9-6 to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Ravens went on to win seven straight games to get to 12-4, then kept winning in the playoffs until they became Super Bowl Champions.

Did Dilfer have anything to do with it? Not to hear the Ravens tell it. They didn’t bother bringing the guy back. His Super Bowl run is still enough to put him on this list.

4. Kyle Boller

The Ravens hoped that they found the answer to their inconsistency at the quarterback position when they picked Boller 19th overall in the 2003 NFL Draft. That…did not happen. A fairly mediocre rookie season shortened by injury was followed by what ended up being the only season where he would start 16 games. He was ok enough to trick people into thinking that more was on the horizon, and that 2005 would be his breakout season. Turf toe pretty much put an end to that, and the rest of Boller’s career with the Ravens was spent either recovering from various injuries or flip-flopping from starter to backup because he nor anybody else could get on a good run for the Ravens.

I’m really questioning this pick the more I think about it, but he does have the second most passing yards & fourth most touchdowns in Ravens history. He’s also started the second most games. Pretty amazing, isn’t it? I’ll be honest, before doing this article I hadn’t thought of Kyle Boller’s existence in at least a decade.

3. Vinny Testaverde

Testaverde holds the distinction of being the first starting quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens. As it turned out, that first Ravens season was one of his best. His 4,177 passing yards stood as the Ravens single-season record until 2016, while his 33 passing touchdowns stood until 2019. It was a truly remarkable season that resulted in Testaverde’s first Pro Bowl appearance. The good people of Tampa never saw it coming.

Unfortunately, Vinny’s performance was largely wasted by a poor Ravens defense. The 441 points Baltimore allowed that season still ranks as the most in franchise history. Baltimore finished 4-12, showing that it was going to take more than changing cities to find success. Testaverde’s stats would take a dip in 1997, and he would move on to the New York Jets. The Ravens would move on to a pretty mediocre string of quarterbacks up until 2008 or so.

2. Lamar Jackson

Originally, I did not want to put Lamar on this list. I left Kyler Murray off of the Arizona Cardinals’ list because I thought it was too soon, and Jackson has only been in the NFL for one more season than Murray. He only started seven games that first season. When I looked at Lamar’s numbers compared with other Ravens quarterbacks, I was given no choice.

Jackson has already thrown the second-most touchdown passes in franchise history & thrown for the fourth-most yards. He’s also rushed for the third-most yards, only Jamal Lewis & Ray Rice are ahead of him on that account. His 6.0 yards per carry is nearly two yards higher than their 4.3. Oh, and his 7.5 yards per passing attempt is highest in team history.

Jackson’s 2019 season was extraordinary, with a team record 36 passing touchdowns & over 1200 rushing yards. He was the first Baltimore Raven to win the Most Valuable Player award. 2020 was a bit of a step back, ranking eleventh in quarterback rating & seventh in QBR. Not bad by regular standards, but nowhere near MVP level. That being said, Lamar could struggle through 2021, move to another franchise if the Ravens refuse to extend him for some reason (they’ll make a deal), and would still be the second best quarterback in Ravens history. He can only move up from here.

1. Joe Flacco

The 2008 NFL Draft only had two quarterbacks picked in the first round, but both of them set a new standard for their franchises. Flacco was the eighteenth pick in the first round that had gained attention during the Senior Bowl & the Combine with his good size & powerful throwing arm. Indeed, Flacco has the kind of physical attributes you want out of a quarterback, and for most of his tenure with the Ravens he did well enough as a starter. He’s played in 110 more games than the Raven QB that played in the second-most games for the team. Yes, every statistical record of relevance belongs to him.

Was he elite? Nah. He’s never led the NFL in any statistical category. He’s never even been selected to a Pro Bowl. Was he solid? Heck yeah! He was certainly reliable, starting every game in nine out of his eleven seasons with the Ravens. Flacco only threw more interceptions than touchdowns once. His teams were successful, as he only had two seasons where his QB record dipped below .500.

For most of their existence, the Baltimore Ravens have only required competence from its quarterbacks. It’s been tough to find, but Joe Flacco was competent for a long period of time. That was what the Ravens needed, and that was what they got.

Join us next time when we look at the Top 5 Buffalo Bills Quarterbacks!

Cook’s Top 5: Arizona Cardinals Quarterbacks
Cook’s Top 5: Atlanta Falcons Quarterbacks
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