Baltimore Ravens

Mallett's two-year deal gives him inside track at Ravens backup job

Published Dec. 16, 2015 1:39 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Baltimore Ravens now have three quarterbacks on their active roster, but only newcomer Ryan Mallett is under contract for next season.

Mallett, who was released in October by the Houston Texans, signed a contract that is worth a reported $1.5 million in base salary and another $1 million in incentives, according to The Baltimore Sun. Current backups Matt Schaub and Jimmy Clausen are only under contract for the remainder of this season.

Schaub struggled in his two starts after Joe Flacco went down with a season-ending knee injury, then sat out with an injury of his own last week against Seattle. Clausen got the nod in the team's 35-6 loss, but apparently played well enough to warrant another start if Schaub isn't able to play this Sunday against Kansas City.

The Ravens received assurances from Mallett that he received professional help for his "personal issues" that affected him in Houston, per ESPN.com. Mallett was reportedly fined repeatedly for being late to practice, then was given his walking papers after missing the team's flight to Miami.

Teams have long been attracted to Mallett's arm strength, which helped make him a third-round pick of the Patriots in 2011. Apparently the Ravens feel his upside is high enough to believe he could be Joe Flacco's backup next season. Considering that there are only three games left to learn the system, it's unlikely he was signed for just this year.