What other quarterbacks could be traded now that Teddy Bridgewater is off the market?
Teddy Bridgewater and Brett Hundley were traded Wednesday. Who’s next?
The New Orleans Saints and New York Jets changed up their depth charts at quarterback Thursday when Teddy Bridgewater was sent to the Bayou for a third-round pick. The swap came hours after the Seattle Seahawks landed Brett Hundley in a trade with the Green Bay Packers.
With a week until the 2018 regular season begins, those two deals probably won’t be the last involving quarterbacks.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, at least three other backup quarterbacks have generated some discussion among teams on the hunt for an additional passer.
The trade of #Packers QB Brett Hundley likely won’t be the last backup QB trade. Among the names being discussed by needy teams: #AZCardinals’ Mike Glennon, #Saints’ Tom Savage, #Steelers’ Josh Dobbs
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 29, 2018
So who’s the best of the group and which teams may be interested?
The candidates
Mike Glennon, Arizona Cardinals
A year ago, the Bears determined Glennon was worth a three-year, $45 million contract and then decided that was a mistake after watching him play four games. Now he’s in Arizona on a two-year, $8 million deal.
That seems a more appropriate salary after he finished the 2017 season with four touchdowns and five interceptions. But Glennon began his career with 19 touchdowns and nine interceptions as a rookie with the Buccaneers, and an argument could certainly be made that Chicago was a difficult situation for any quarterback.
He’s a relatively experienced backup with 22 starts under his belt, and he’s still just 28. With Sam Bradford and Josh Rosen locked into roster spots, there’s a good chance the Cardinals release Glennon if they can’t find a trade partner.
That means it would probably be really inexpensive — a conditional late-round selection, perhaps — to land Glennon.
Likelihood he’s moved: 5/10
Tom Savage, New Orleans Saints
The Texans slowly groomed their 2014 fourth-round pick and then handed him the reins in 2017, but that lasted all of two quarters. He was benched at halftime of Week 1 and Deshaun Watson took the mantle in Houston.
Savage got more starting experience in the latter half of the season after Watson’s year ended prematurely due to a knee injury. The Texans went just 1-6 during his seven starts, and he finished the year with five touchdowns and six interceptions.
He joined an underwhelming group of quarterbacks on the Saints’ depth chart behind Drew Brees, and looked like he was on his way to winning the No. 2 role. But the addition of Teddy Bridgewater means he’s almost definitely not going to make the roster, especially with quarterback Taysom Hill adding value on special teams.
With so little success in his past and no reason to think he won’t hit the waiver wire during final roster cuts, the Saints’ only chance at a trade is if a team is looking to skip the queue with a cheap trade offer. That seems unlikely.
Likelihood he’s moved: 2/10
Joshua Dobbs, Pittsburgh Steelers
Unlike Glennon and Savage, Dobbs hasn’t seen the field during the regular season. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, because there’s an intrigue that comes with mystery. A year ago, Brett Hundley was considered one of the NFL’s most promising young backups and a potential trade target for teams desperate for a last-second starter. Then he played and changed minds.
Dobbs hasn’t had a chance to prove he’s a worthwhile NFL quarterback, but he hasn’t shown that he’s worthless either.
In preseason this year, he’s completed 21 of 31 passes for 283 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions.
The bigger question is whether the Steelers want to move on from a player they just picked in the fourth round in 2017. If they do move forward without Dobbs, it means they’re more confident in 2018 third-round pick Mason Rudolph as a piece for the future. There’s also Landry Jones, the team’s long-time backup who made five starts in his first five seasons with the team.
Someone is going to be the odd man out and Dobbs is the logical choice.
Likelihood he’s moved: 6/10
Robert Griffin III, Baltimore Ravens
After spending the entire 2017 season as a free agent, Griffin got another shot with the Ravens and he’s made the most of it. In preseason, he’s completed 66.7 percent of his passes for 185 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. He’s also added 45 rushing yards.
At times this August, he’s looked like the player who electrified the league as a rookie in 2012. But with Joe Flacco entrenched as the starter and Lamar Jackson being groomed as the Ravens’ starter of the future, Griffin is third on the totem pole.
If Baltimore doesn’t think Jackson is ready to start in the case that Flacco goes down, it may be wise to keep a third quarterback. There aren’t many teams that keep three passers on the active roster, though, and the Ravens may jump at the chance to move Griffin if an offer comes along.
Likelihood he’s moved: 3/10
AJ McCarron, Buffalo Bills
The former Bengals backup was signed by the Bills to a two-year deal in March that made him the presumptive starter with Nathan Peterman as the only other quarterback on the roster.
Even after Buffalo drafted Josh Allen with the No. 7 pick, McCarron seemed to have the clearest path to a Week 1 start. Then preseason happened and McCarron’s chances at the starting job kind of went out the window.
He hasn’t been awful, completing 10 of his 16 passes for 128 yards, but he’s been clearly outplayed by Peterman and Allen who have led the Bills offense to points. With little experience between Peterman and Allen, there’s a good chance Buffalo would prefer to keep the veteran, but if there’s any player from the trio who would be the odd man out, it’s McCarron.
Likelihood he’s moved: 2/10
The potential buyers
Cam Newton has been an indestructible tank for most of his NFL career. Even back-breaking car crashes don’t do much to slow him down.
But if the Panthers lose Newton for any time in 2018, Garrett Gilbert is currently the one second on the depth chart with Taylor Heinicke at No. 3. Gilbert is on his fifth roster in as many seasons and has never seen regular season action, while Heinicke is on his fourth roster in four seasons. If the Panthers has to turn to either, the season is probably over.
It’d make perfect sense for Carolina to find a player with some starting experience, or at least a little more promise, to slot in behind Newton.
Likelihood they make a trade: 5/10
The Paxton Lynch project was a failure, but there’s reason to be optimistic about Chad Kelly. Mr. Irrelevant 2017 has been a pleasant surprise in preseason and has, at times, looked like a capable backup for Case Keenum.
But if the Broncos move on from Lynch at the end of preseason and John Elway isn’t convinced that the team couldn’t use a veteran presence, Denver could be in the market for a little help.
Likelihood they make a trade: 1/10
The duo of Matt Cassel and Jake Rudock looked like a decent pair of players to compete for the backup spot in Detroit, but neither have impressed in August. Neither are threats to complete deep passes and that means the Lions offense would be doomed if Matthew Stafford can’t play the entire year.
Stafford recently spoke to reporters about how helpful it is to have a knowledgable backup who can help him watching tape. That may be what saves Cassel’s job in Detroit, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the Lions are on the hunt for an upgrade.
Likelihood they make a trade: 2/10
Houston Texans
For the first time in a long time — maybe ever? — the Texans have reason to believe they have a young quarterback on a path toward becoming one of the NFL’s elite.
But when Houston lost Watson for the year to an ACL tear in 2017 the team circled the drain without a capable quarterback ready to take over. Adding Brandon Weeden to the roster is better than the team’s 2017 options of Tom Savage and T.J. Yates, but it’s not the most inspiring backup quarterback situation either.
Considering Savage is among the best options on the market, the Texans don’t have the best list of options, though. Weeden may be as good as it gets.
Likelihood they make a trade: 2/10
The Dolphins need Ryan Tannehill to finally live up to his top 10 draft status and, so far, his preseason hasn’t given a clear indication that he’s ready to make that jump. But if his surgically-repaired knee isn’t able to make it through a 16-game season, it’s David Fales and Brock Osweiler currently splitting the No. 2 spot on the depth chart.
There’s one more preseason game to shake out that backup quarterback battle, but neither are the most promising option.
Fales is in his fifth season and has seen action in just three games, while Osweiler’s failures in the last two seasons have been on very public display. But like Weeden in Houston, the options on the market may not be much better for the Dolphins than Osweiler.
Likelihood they make a trade: 3/10
The Raiders didn’t need to make too many changes at quarterback this offseason with Derek Carr, Connor Cook, and EJ Manuel all returning. But preseason hasn’t helped coach Jon Gruden decide who’s going to back up Carr.
After another unimpressive preseason showing, Gruden was asked if he even has the backup quarterback on the roster at this point.
“I don’t know,” Gruden said, via NFL.com. “You know, we’re going to continue to work, continue to see who’s available. I thought there were some good moments tonight and there were some moments tonight that weren’t good. It’s been too inconsistent but I’m not going to say much more tonight until I see the tape, but we’re going to continue to evaluate it.”
It’s been a weird offseason for the Raiders, but finding a more reliable backup for Carr wouldn’t be an odd decision.
Likelihood they make a trade: 5/10