3 credible free agent backup quarterbacks the Detroit Lions could sign

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.

3 free agents the Detroit Lions could still sign to be their backup quarterback

3. Blaine Gabbert

2022 Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

For however many days Tom Brady was retired last offseason, it has become easy to forget the exact number of days it was, Gabbert was atop the depth chart in Tampa Bay. But he instead went back to being the G.O.A.T’s backup for a third straight season, with six completions and eight pass attempts in one appearance last season.

Over the last three seasons as Brady’s backup in Tampa, Gabbert has attempted a total of 35 passes with 22 completions and three touchdons. The last time he played a notable amount was 2018 with the Tennessee Titans, when he played in eight games and made three starts. Over three seasons before that, he started a total of 18 games for the San Francisco 49ers (2015 and 2016) and the Arizona Cardinals (2017).

Of course Gabbert is best-remembered as a first-round draft bust, with a 5-22 record as the Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback after being selected 10th overall by them in 2011.

For all of the turned-up noses the mere mention of his name inspires, Gabbert has stuck around as a backup for years longer than he probably should have. From a pure experience standpoint, the Lions should probably have him on their radar now.

2. Mason Rudolph

2022 Team: Pittsburgh Steelers

Once faintly thought of as the potential successor to Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh, not that “Big Ben” was on board with any idea he could ever be replaced, Rudolph is now at the end of the line with the Steelers. Kenny Pickett is the guy under center now, and they will go another direction for his backups.

Rudolph started eight games in 2019 when Roethlisberger missed most of that season, and he made one start each in 2020 and 2021. That most recent start, Week 10 of 2021 when Roethlisberger sat out due to COVID, was against the Lions (30-for-50 for 242 yards, one touchdown and one interception; four carries for 36 yards). He did not see any regular season action last season.

Reports going into free agency suggested the Steelers were open to re-signing Rudolph again, and failing everything else to fill out the depth chart behind Pickett that could still happen. But he would do well to move on with his career, if possible, and pursue any and all other options. The Lions may very well be one of those options.

1. Carson Wentz

2022 Team: Washington Commanders

Going all-in here with a big name who’s game has truly never lived up his name and draft status. Wentz is fast becoming a journeyman, as the Indianapolis Colts couldn’t wait to get rid of him after one season in 2021 and the Commanders followed suit by cutting him this offseason.

To absolutely no surprise, Wentz made it clear he intends to keep playing and is open to any role on a new team. Well he’s open to “various roles” actually, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. As if he has a choice other than to be open to being a backup at this point.

Wentz was of course the second overall pick in the 2016 draft, one pick after Lions quarterback Jared Goff. That is more interesting than an invitation for controversy should Wentz land in Detroit. For whatever it might be worth, Wentz had one of his most productive games last season for Washington in Week 2 against the Lions.

Wentz is lined up for a big piece of humble pie, if the last couple offseasons haven’t been enough to feed it to him already. There are for sure worse places to land as a backup than Detroit, especially as some teams who could have had some interest in him have signed other quarterbacks to fill out their depth charts.

The prospect of the Lions signing Wentz will truly come down to them having any interest at all, now or eventually, and to this point there has been nothing to suggest they do. He may simply be already deemed as not worth the trouble, even as a backup who will only play if Goff is unable to.

But for a team that needs a more credible No. 2 quarterback, should Goff miss time during a 2023 season with high expectations, Wentz should be broadly in play.