The Cincinnati Bengals might find themselves on the free-agent market for a quarterback this offseason.
With Joe Burrow the likely No. 1 pick and Andy Dalton a trade candidate because he still wants to be a starter, the front office might look to an outsider to serve as a rookie’s backup.
If that’s the case, the following guys might be available. Keep in mind we’ve already looked at free agents in the offensive tackles, guards, linebackers and edge rushers areas.
Marcus Mariota
Is Mariota going to get another shot in the NFL as a starter?
If not, Zac Taylor probably wouldn’t mind getting his hands on him as a backup. Mariota is still only 26 years old and the situation in Tennessee wasn’t always favorable for the 2015 second-overall pick, hence the career 62.9 completion percentage with 76 touchdowns and 44 interceptions.
But besides his ability and the potential for a spark in a Taylor-directed offense, Mariota’s handling of getting benched last year — only to watch Ryan Tannehill lead a deep playoff run — is the type of culture the Bengals are looking to establish and would like to have around a rookie.
Case Keenum
Keenum has been one of the NFL’s more interesting veteran passers over the last few years. He erupted in Minnesota in 2017 in great circumstances, which landed him in Denver as a starter. He flopped there and got traded to Washington, where he also (mostly) flopped.
A journeyman at the age of 31 with a career 62.4 completion percentage and 75 touchdowns against 47 interceptions, Keenum probably isn’t going to get another stab at starting.
But the Bengals would probably welcome Keenum as a game-managing backup behind a rookie who can impart plenty of knowledge after his five-team NFL journey so far.
Josh McCown
McCown, soon to be 41, wants to keep playing and plenty of teams have kept on giving him an opportunity to make final rosters while helping along young quarterbacks.
The former third-round pick entered the league in 2002 and over the last few years has backed up the likes of Carson Wentz and Sam Darnold. His stats aren’t going to blow anyone away, but it speaks volumes a team like the Eagles has already been all over him as a potential member of the coaching staff.
While he’s currently recovering from a torn hamstring suffered in a playoff loss recently — he played the entire second half on the injury! — McCown is the sort of veteran add many teams would leap at making behind a rookie.
Blake Bortles
Bortles, the third pick in 2014, never worked out over the course of five years in Jacksonville. But he spent last season with Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams, so if Taylor gets a good word, he could be the move.
It’s no secret Bortles was a bust and he sits on a sub .60-percent career completion percentage with 103 touchdowns and 75 picks. But if McVay liked him in a backup role, Taylor might too.
Besides the fit, Bortles is only 27 and can impart some wisdom on a rookie when it comes to life in the NFL while attempting to resssurct a downtrodden franchise as a top-five pick and the expectations that come along with it.
