Right-of-first-refusal tender for Huntley

Future for one Ravens QB becomes a little clearer as Jackson’s destiny remains iffy

Lamar Jackson’s future with the Ravens remains unknown, at least for now, but fellow quarterback Tyler Huntley’s became a little clearer just before the NFL free agency window opened at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.

Baltimore has placed a right of first refusal tender on Huntley, a restricted free agent, his agent, Joseph Behar, confirmed to The Baltimore Sun.

That means that any team has the chance to sign the 25-year-old to an offer sheet. If the Ravens decline to match it, they won’t get any compensation; that’s unlike the situation for Jackson and the Ravens, who could match any offer Jackson receives or obtain two firstround draft picks from that team.

If Huntley plays on the low RFA tender, he’ll stand to make $2.67 million this year.

Huntley made eight starts in the regular season over the past two years for Baltimore while Jackson was injured. That included last season’s AFC wild-card playoff debacle against the Cincinnati Bengals, when Huntley had the ball knocked out of his hands by linebacker Logan Wilson on third-and-goal from the 1-yard-line early in the fourth quarter and into the hands of defensive end Sam Hubbard, who returned it 98 yards for what ended up being the decisive touchdown.

Huntley, who signed with the Ravens as an undrafted free agent out of Utah in 2020, has played in 15 total games for Baltimore, completing 65.6% of his passes for 1,754 yards with five touchdowns and seven interceptions. He has also rushed for 454 yards and three scores.

The backup quarterback was also named to the Pro Bowl roster in January as a replacement for injured Buffalo Bills starter Josh Allen as the fourth alternate after completing 67% of his passes for 658 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions in five regular-season appearances.

The tender also means that the Ravens’ other restricted free agents are all now unrestricted. That group includes All-Pro long snapper Nick Moore, safety Geno Stone, line

backers Kristian Welch and Del’Shawn Phillips and center Trystan Colon.