With Case Keenum possibly headed elsewhere, the pool of solid backup quarterbacks will begin to shrink. Sooner rather than later, the Cincinnati Bengals will need to find one of their own.
With word that quarterback Case Keenum could wind up anywhere from Chicago to Cleveland, one question the Cincinnati Bengals will need to answer is who is the veteran in the QB room? Add in the high likelihood that Andy Dalton is playing elsewhere next season, and it’s suddenly Joe Burrow and not much else.
The absolute failing of North Carolina State quarterback Ryan Finley clouds the issue. He was, by every metric, terrible. With Dalton looking for a starting gig, and fans not likely wanting to wait long on Burrow to play, the need for a veteran bridge type of quarterback is serious. A player like Keenum would have been ideal.
The critical element in all of this is the kind of quarterback the Bengals will need. Clearly, they want someone who will compete for the starting job in 2020. That said, they also have to recognize the writing on the wall, and that, if things go as planned for Cincinnati, that the heir apparent is Burrow. Again, why Keenum would be a smart choice.
There are some quality QB’s who will be available for relatively bargain prices. Names to potentially look out for include Chase Daniel who was in Chicago last season, Matt Moore who was in Kansas City, and maybe even Colt McCoy in Washington. All names who have toiled behind the scenes, but can start in the NFL, and certainly work in relief.
While a ton of attention has been on Burrow and the pending exit of Dalton, what Cincinnati does in the event Burrow isn’t ready on Opening Day is something to consider. Additionally, having a veteran like any of those listed above is critical. Dan Orlovsky was a big help to a young Jared Goff in Los Angeles. It is logical Taylor might want the same for Burrow.
While the long term quarterback situation looks all but solved in Cincinnati, the short term will need some attention.