Bengals should make signing veteran QB off-season priority

Dallas franchise-tagged Prescott in the offseason after he turned down an extension. Prescott is obviously not coming to Cincinnati to back up Burrow. The strongest likelihood is that Prescott winds up re-signing in Dallas. If contract talks breakdown, Dallas could draft a QB and Prescott would go somewhere else to become a starter.

There are multiple other QBs the Bengals could consider as a potential early-season starter in 2021 and backup to Burrow when he is ready to return.

Some of the QBs could include Kyle Allen, Jacoby Brissett, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Cam Newton, Mitchell Trubisky, Tyrod Taylor and Jameis Winston. Brandon Allen and Finley will not likely be back in Cincinnati in 2021.

Kyle Allen was the starter in Washington before suffering an injury and was replaced by Alex Smith. It doesn’t seem that Allen is the long-term answer in Washington and Smith is at the end of his career. Dwayne Haskins could be available in a trade from Washington.

Brissett was the starter in Indianapolis before the Colts signed Philip Rivers in the offseason. With Rivers in the twilight of his career, it appears the Colts will go a different direction for a long term solution at QB than to develop Brissett. Ryan Fitzpatrick is in his last year in Miami with Tua Tagovailioa the franchise QB.