Niner Noise
FanSided

5 NFL teams likely in the market for a new quarterback in 2019

By Peter Panacy

BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 31: Quarterback Andy Dalton #14 of the Cincinnati Bengals throws the ball in the first quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on December 31, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 31: Quarterback Andy Dalton #14 of the Cincinnati Bengals throws the ball in the first quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on December 31, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JANUARY 21: Case Keenum #7 of the Minnesota Vikings reacts during the second quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 21, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JANUARY 21: Case Keenum #7 of the Minnesota Vikings reacts during the second quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 21, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Denver Broncos

Projected 2018 Starter: Case Keenum

Simply put, the Denver Broncos’ quarterbacking was putrid last season. It’s part of the reason the team finished 5-11 and inked Case Keenum to a two-year free-agent deal this offseason.

Keenum is coming off his best season as a pro, posting a 22-to-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio with the Minnesota Vikings last season. And the Vikings rode that momentum all the way to the NFC Championship game.

So why did the Vikings move on from Keenum?

That’s a big question mark. At 30 years old, Keenum might be viewed simply as a “late bloomer” and someone who, just now, found regular success at the NFL level. Before 2017, though, Keenum never started more than nine games in a season and only did so when No. 1 QBs found themselves injured or not ready to go. Such was the case with Keenum’s former team, the Los Angeles Rams, in 2016.

Keenum is an upgrade over anything the Broncos had under center last year. But it’s a reach to view him as a long-term option, meaning general manager John Elway will likely be looking again in 2019 for another upgrade.