The free agent market for backup quarterbacks has gotten thin very quickly, and here are three the Detroit Lions can still sign.
Right after the season and at the NFL Combine, Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes acknowledged his failure to have a competent backup to Jared Goff while also citing the priority he would place on that this offseason.
Here are Holmes’ comments after the season, via SI.com.
"Going into this past year, yeah, we went down to the umpteenth hour trying to figure out what we were gonna do at number two,”“I’ve let it be known internally that we’re not gonna be in that position again heading into this year, so we have to get that settle…But, I am gonna make it a point of emphasis and make sure that, being that we’re finally in a position to address that quarterback room behind Jared, we have been in that position in the past. But, we’re gonna make that a point of emphasis this year.”"
That seemed to virtually guarantee a free agent signing, rather than roll with a drafted rookie as the No. 2 quarterback next season.
As the first week of free agency closes, the pickings for free agent backup quarterbacks has gotten slim rather quickly. Gardner Minshew, Marcus Mariota, Andy Dalton, Taylor Heinicke, Mike White, Case Keenum, Drew Lock and Cooper Rush have all agreed to deals elsewhere, with no significant mention of the Lions as a possible suitor for any of them.
Teddy Bridgewater stands as perhaps the top name available, and he certainly fits what Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson outlined as the ideal skill set for a backup quarterback. But it’s safe to say I don’t love Bridgewater, dating back seemingly eons ago to his time as the Vikings starter before his career-altering knee injury, and entering free agency the Lions could have done better–and maybe they still can, in a big picture sense. Bridgewater may get a better deal from another team anyway.
Even with the number of good options thinned the way it is, here are three free agents the Detroit Lions can still sign to be their backup quarterback to salvage things some.