Well, well, well… I guess I wasn’t crazy after all!

The Baltimore Ravens are reportedly finalizing a trade with the Arizona Cardinals to acquire quarterback Jacoby Brissett, according to Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport.

And honestly, I predicted this move two days ago.

It just made way too much sense.

Let’s look at how this situation developed.

The Ravens lost Lamar Jackson, who is headed to injured reserve after suffering a thumb injury that requires surgery. Then Tyler Huntley went down with a season-ending turf toe injury.

That left Baltimore scrambling for options.

Undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano is expected to start Thursday night against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but the Ravens clearly needed a more experienced quarterback for the weeks ahead.

Enter Jacoby Brissett.

Arizona had started Brissett in its first eight games this season, but after a disappointing performance against Dallas, the Cardinals benched him for Gardner Minshew. They also moved rookie Carson Beck into the backup role.

So Brissett suddenly became expendable.

I said it two days ago: this move made too much sense for both sides. Baltimore needed a quarterback, and Arizona had just taken Brissett out of its plans.

Sometimes the obvious move is actually the right one.

What Does Brissett Bring to Baltimore?

Brissett isn’t Lamar Jackson, and nobody should expect him to be.

He’s a veteran quarterback who can provide some stability while Jackson is sidelined.

In eight starts for Arizona this season, Brissett completed 63.3% of his passes for 1,719 yards, 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Those aren’t spectacular numbers, but they’re certainly respectable. And considering Baltimore’s alternatives right now, getting a quarterback with his experience is a pretty important move.

The Ravens don’t necessarily need Brissett to become a superstar. They need someone who can run the offense, protect the football and give them a chance to win games.

That’s what this trade is about.

The Trade Isn’t Official Yet

One important detail: the deal has not been finalized, and the trade compensation has not been announced.

According to Schefter, the trade is expected to be completed this weekend.

That means Brissett will NOT be available for Thursday night’s game against Jacksonville. Joe Fagnano is expected to start that game, while Brissett is expected to make his Baltimore debut in Week 10 against the Los Angeles Chargers.

So the Ravens will have to get through one more game before their new quarterback arrives.

Baltimore Is Trying to Save Its Season

This is probably the biggest part of the story.

The Ravens are 4-4 and currently sitting last in the AFC North. They’ve had a rough season, and losing Jackson and Huntley at the same time could have completely derailed their playoff hopes.

But Baltimore clearly isn’t ready to throw in the towel.

Trading for Brissett gives the team a veteran option and at least gives them a chance to stay competitive while Jackson recovers.

Of course, everything depends on how long Jackson is out and how well Brissett performs once he gets there.

I’m not saying this trade suddenly makes Baltimore a Super Bowl contender again. But it’s a much better situation than having to rely on an inexperienced rookie for the foreseeable future.

And if Brissett can keep the team afloat, maybe the Ravens will still have something to play for when Jackson eventually returns.

Final Thoughts

I actually really like this move for Baltimore.

Again, I predicted it two days ago because the fit was just so obvious. The Ravens desperately needed quarterback help, and the Cardinals had just benched a veteran quarterback who was suddenly no longer part of their plans.

It made sense for both teams, and now it’s happening.

We still don’t know what Arizona is getting in return, and the trade isn’t officially completed yet. But Brissett is expected to join Baltimore this weekend and make his debut against the Chargers in Week 10.

Now we’ll see if he can help save the Ravens’ season.

It’s certainly going to be interesting!

#RavensFlock #BaltimoreRavens #NFL #JacobyBrissett #Cardinals

Thanks for reading!!!