The Baltimore Ravens reportedly talked to Brandon Weeden before the quarterback signed with the Dallas Cowboys, which is exactly what the Ravens should be doing. The Ravens need to upgrade the backup quarterback position, and the team has been lucky that Joe Flacco has never missed a start in his six-year NFL career.
Tyrod Taylor, the Ravens' backup for the past three seasons, can get the team through a game if Flacco got hurt. But, if Flacco had to miss a significant amount of time, the Ravens' season would be over because Taylor isn't an accurate passer.
If the Ravens wanted to add more insurance at the quarterback spot, they should sign Ryan Fitzpatrick, who was cut by the Tennessee Titans. Fitzpatrick is streaky and interception prone, but he is the most serviceable backup left in free agency. He has started at least eight games over the past six seasons, and he has thrown 85 touchdowns in the past four years.
Flacco endured more hard hits last season than any of his previous seasons, and the Ravens had to re-evaluate their backup quarterback situation toward the end of last season when Flacco took that shot to his knee in Detroit. The Ravens can't expect Flacco to be there every week. That's a luxury, not a reality.
Look at what the other top teams in the AFC have done at backup quarterback. The Broncos invested a second-round pick in Brock Osweiler, and the Patriots used a third-rounder on Ryan Mallett. The Ravens have tried to develop Taylor, but he's never completed 60 percent of his passes in the preseason and he's looked ragged in limited action in the regular season.
Other than Fitzpatrick, there's not much left with free-agent quarterbacks. Jason Campbell, Michael Vick, Matt Flynn and Rex Grossman are available.
Like they've done the past two seasons, the Ravens will add a free-agent quarterback at some point. They signed Curtis Painter in 2012 and Caleb Hanie in 2013. Both were cut by the end of the preseason.
The Ravens shouldn't just bring in someone who will compete against Taylor this year. They should bring in someone who can actually win the job.