A.J. McCarron - Pro Football Rumors

Bengals Not Shopping QB A.J. McCarron

March 1st, 2017 at 10:50am CST by Zachary Links

The Patriots aren’t trading their talented backup quarterback and it doesn’t sound like the Bengals will be doing so either. Bengals executive Duke Tobin indicated to reporters that A.J. McCarron is probably staying put.

“We are not actively trying to diminish our team by trading A.J. McCarron,” Tobin said (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com).

At the same time, he would not completely rule out the possibility of a deal, telling reporters “the phones in our office work.” Tobin also wouldn’t rule out the possibility of an intra-divisional trade, though he said it is unlikely.

McCarron, 27 in September, has completed 66% of his passes in the NFL, though that is drawing from a very small sample. For his part, McCarron is hoping to get more burn in 2017 and wouldn’t mind a trade that would free him from serving as Andy Dalton‘s understudy. McCarron’s trade value increased further when it was learned that he will be a restricted free agent after the 2017 season. At the same time, that makes him even more attractive to the Bengals who would like to keep McCarron as a quality and inexpensive Plan B behind Dalton.

Bengals To Assess A.J. McCarron Trade?

February 18th, 2017 at 8:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

Somewhat overlooked in what promises to be an eventful offseason when it comes to available quarterbacks, A.J. McCarron may be firmly in the mix here. The Bengals are expected to gauge the market for a potential trade of their backup quarterback over the next month, Chris Wesseling of NFL.com notes.

And NFL evaluators look to be more intrigued by McCarron than a name that’s risen to a higher tier than Cincinnati’s backup has in terms of trade buzz. NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah surveyed five NFL personnel execs about the respective trade values of McCarron and Jimmy Garoppolo, and the decision-makers rated McCarron as the more attractive trade piece.

“I wouldn’t feel good about making a major commitment to any of these quarterbacks,” one executive explained regarding those believed to be available. “If I had to choose one, I would go after McCarron. Ideally, you get him for a late second- or early third-round pick. Then, if it doesn’t work out, you draft a QB in 2018.”

Another exec told Jeremiah he would target McCarron over Garoppolo if his team needed a quarterback. The 26-year-old McCarron has thrown 119 career passes, completing 66 percent of those, but each came in 2015 after what turned out to be a Dalton season-ending injury. The 25-year-old Garoppolo only made it through one game healthy in his Deflategate audition last season, but the former second-round pick has nonetheless drawn extensive interest from QB-needy franchises.

This comes as a bit of a surprise given Garoppolo being linked to several teams — the Browns, 49ers and Bears — compared to scant reports emerging about a prospective deal for McCarron. Multiple second-round picks could be on the table in a Garoppolo deal, with a first-round selection potentially in the realm of possibility.

Earlier this month, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport noted the Browns could pursue McCarron — who spent three years under Hue Jackson‘s tutelage — as a fallback option in case Garoppolo’s price became too much for their liking. Marvin Lewis said recently no team inquired about McCarron last offseason, but the team would have demanded a first-round pick in a deal then, per Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer. It’s reasonable to suggest that could still be the asking price, but if the demand remains nonexistent, it stands to reason the former fifth-round pick could be had for less.

The Cincinnati backup’s value may be viewed as higher because it’s been determined he’s under team control for two more seasons, as an RFA in 2018, compared to Garoppolo being set for a contract year. Being set to enter a fourth season behind Andy Dalton, McCarron would not be opposed to a trade that would let him compete for a starting job.

Bengals’ McCarron Will Be RFA After ’17

February 2nd, 2017 at 11:16am CST by Zachary Links

Bengals quarterback A.J. McCarron has been in trade rumors for months now and he might be a little more valuable than initially thought. As a 2014 draft pick, McCarron was believed to be under contract through the 2017 season. But, because he spent most of his rookie year on the non-football injury list, he’ll only be a restricted free agent after the ’17 campaign, former agent and CBSSports.com columnist Joel Corry tweets.

Now that McCarron can be kept for relatively little money for an extra year, he’s simultaneously more attractive as a trade chip and more attractive to Cincinnati as a backup QB. Still, McCarron has indicated that he wouldn’t mind getting traded to a team that would give him a playing opportunity. As it stands, he is blocked behind starter Andy Dalton.

McCarron saw some burn in 2015 when Dalton was out with injury and it was enough to intrigue rival teams about his potential. In the final four games of ’15, McCarron passed for 832 yards and six touchdowns against just two interceptions.

McCarron’s 2017 contract calls for him to carry a modest $735K cap number. It’s not immediately clear how much he is slated to earn in this new 2018 season.

Bengals QB A.J. McCarron Wouldn’t Oppose Trade

January 2nd, 2017 at 6:37pm CST by Ben Levine

A.J. McCarron‘s tenure with the Bengals could be coming to an end. The backup quarterback told Jim Owczarski of Cincinnati.com that he wouldn’t be surprised or disappointed if he was traded this offseason.

“Now, it’s nothing I can do,” McCarron said. “I try not to worry about it. You’re always gonna think about it. I’d be lyin’; whoever told you that I wouldn’t, or if they were going through the same situation, you’re going to think about it. Because you want to play as a competitor. I’ll let my agent handle everything and go with whatever he says.”

Despite having been in the organization for the past three years, the signal-caller indicated that he wouldn’t be upset if he was dealt elsewhere.

“No,” he said. “I definitely wouldn’t be distraught at all. Like I told Marvin (Lewis) and all my coaches in my exit meetings, I appreciate everybody in this organization. I really do. From the bottom of my heart. They gave me a chance when a lot of people wouldn’t.”

McCarron joined the organization as a fifth-round pick in the 2014 draft. The former Alabama standout had to sit out his entire rookie campaign as he recovered from a shoulder ailment, but he got several opportunities in 2015 when starter Andy Dalton went down with an injury. In the final four games of that campaign, McCarron threw for 832 yards, six touchdowns, and only two interceptions. The quarterback also got a playoff start that season, throwing for 212 yards, one touchdown and one interception in a Bengals’ loss to the Steelers.

The team got 16 games out of Dalton this season, and McCarron didn’t see the field as a result. Dalton inked a pricey six-year extension with the franchise in 2014. Since the red-head will be starting for the Bengals for the foreseeable future, it’s no surprise that McCarron would want an opportunity to start elsewhere.

Furthermore, McCarron could be an attractive trade target for teams that aren’t looking to invest big money in a quarterback. The 26-year-old will be entering the final year of his contract next season and is only owed $735K.

Owczarski believes the team’s claiming of rookie quarterback Jeff Driskel could be an indication that they’ll shop McCarron this offseason. The third-year pro also recognized that the transaction was a sign that he could be shopped.

“As a quarterback, you understand something might be happening and they’re trying to find somebody they’re possibly comfortable with. But you never know,” McCarron said. “Especially during the season, I don’t ever think about those things. I just don’t put my mind on it.”

Extra Points: Sankey, Chiefs, Cowboys, McCarron

September 4th, 2016 at 7:40pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Some assorted notes from around the NFL as we wrap up the weekend…

At least five teams expressed interest in Bishop Sankey before the running back landed on the Patriots‘ practice squad, tweets ESPN’s Adam Caplan.
The Chiefs brought in several players for workouts on Saturday, according to Terez A. Paylor of KansasCity.com: RB Zac Brooks, RB David Cobb, C Anthony Fabiano, DT David Moala, OG Ian Silberman, and DE Quanterus Smith.
After having waived quarterback Jameill Showers earlier today, the Cowboys are hoping the signal-caller will land on their practice squad, according to Brandon George of The Dallas Morning News (via Twitter).
The Bengals are planning on holding on to three quarterbacks and have no “plans” of trading A.J. McCarron, according to Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer (via Twitter). Earlier reports indicated that the team was seeking at least “Day 2 draft picks” in return for the backup QB.

Extra Points: Preseason, QBs, Goldson, Kruger

August 31st, 2016 at 8:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

The NFL’s longtime format of four preseason games could be set to change as soon as next year, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reports. A lot of talk’s occurred about altering the length of the preseason, with some in league circles wanting to ditch the fourth game. Pointing to the number of injuries to starter-level players that occur during meaningless contests and the public relations hits the NFL’s taken about the safety of its game, others see no reason more than two are necessary.

Additional practices, including joint workouts, are among the ways the league could bypass coaches’ concerns about not having enough evaluation time, La Canfora notes. The league remains committed to implementing a plan for a developmental league or an in-season academy that would help the lower-tier players hone their skills without having to do so for teams come August.

La Canfora believes the preseason could change as soon as next year, and be drastically different within five years, but doesn’t see a spring developmental league on the immediate horizon since the NFLPA would have to sign off on that.

Here’s more from around the league as teams get their backups ready for the final night of exhibition tilts.

Multiple quarterbacks being lost for either the season or a significant part of it has inflated the value of backups on the trade market. La Canfora notes the Buccaneers, Bengals and Browns are not likely to part with respective No. 2 signal-callers Mike Glennon, A.J. McCarron and Josh McCown for anything less than a Day 2 draft pick, with the possibility a team holds out for a first-round selection. Each team would prefer to keep their backups, La Canfora writes.
Mark Sanchez could qualify for this above discussion, though it’s highly unlikely the Broncos would receive a Day 2 pick for him with $4.5MM and just one season left on his contract. Troy Renck of Denver7 reports (on Twitter) a Sanchez resolution could come by Friday. The Broncos have engaged in efforts to try and trade Sanchez this week after naming Trevor Siemian the Week 1 starter.
Dashon Goldson‘s deal with the Falcons is a one-year, $1.5MM deal with $250K guaranteed, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (on Twitter). $500K of his money is tied to per-game active bonuses.
The Saints‘ deal with Paul Kruger is a one-year, $3MM pact worth up to $5MM with incentives, a league source told ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter. Before his release, he was under contract through next season at $6.5MM this year and $7MM next year with Cleveland. The Saints will have to carve out some cap space to make way for Kruger’s deal and they’ll likely do that through contract restructuring.

Zach Links contributed to this report

AFC Notes: Bills, Titans, McCarron, Ferguson

March 23rd, 2016 at 9:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

Roger Goodell and other league brass see it as “imperative” the Bills build a new stadium, Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News reports. A source told Carucci the league hierarchy regards Ralph Wilson Stadium, which opened in 1973, as one of the three worst in the league, along with the Raiders’ and Chargers’ venues.

“I don’t think it’s urgent like it has to happen tomorrow,” Giants owner John Mara told media. “But I think, for the long-term best interests of that franchise, they need to be in a new building. They still have great fan support. But there’s a growing disparity in income between the top quartile teams and the bottom quartile teams, and that’s something we have to be conscious of. And a new stadium would help them a great deal.”

The franchise recently spent upwards of $130MM to renovate the stadium, but a source told Carucci the league wasn’t behind that renovation and doesn’t see it as a major upgrade.

Here’s some more from the AFC.

Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News is unimpressed with the way the Jets have treated veteran tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson this offseason. It’s not clear yet whether Ferguson is in the Jets’ plans for 2016, given the team’s lack of cap flexibility and the lineman’s $14MM+ cap hit, and Mehta believes the lack of communication with one of the team’s most respected veterans “has been embarrassing.”
Although Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk recently suggested that the team’s ownership structure uncertainties would soon be resolved, a league source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that the NFL remains unsatisfied with the efforts to “address issues with the hierarchy.” According to that source, there’s still a very real possibility of a forced sale. Titans president Steve Underwood dismissed that idea, telling Florio, “Anonymous sources related to Titans ownership are always unreliable and misinformed.”
With several teams in need of quarterback help, Bengals owner Mike Brown won’t rule out an A.J. McCarron trade, according to Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer. While Marvin Lewis seemed to close the door on the Bengals moving their backup quarterback, Brown said any player’s available for the right deal. The owner, however, said he doesn’t foresee a trade materializing right now. McCarron completed 66.4% of his passes last season, throwing six touchdown passes compared to two interceptions in three starts in relief of Andy Dalton.
Picking at No. 13, the Dolphins are very interested in Vernon Hargraves III, a Florida spokesperson told Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. With the exception of newly acquired Byron Maxwell, Miami’s cornerback contingent consists of second-, third- or fourth-year players, with Jamar Taylor heading the group.

Zach Links contributed to this report

Bengals Won’t Trade A.J. McCarron

March 21st, 2016 at 6:06pm CST by Zachary Links

Several teams around the league have question marks under center and it makes sense that Bengals quarterback A.J. McCarron could draw interest from rival clubs. Even though there could be interest in the Bengals backup, coach Marvin Lewis told PFT’s Mike Florio the team isn’t interested in trading Andy Dalton‘s understudy.

McCarron, 26 in September, filled in for Dalton to close out the 2015 regular season. From weeks 13 through 16, McCarron completed 66.1% of his passes with six touchdowns and two interceptions before suffering a left wrist injury. The right-handed QB toughed it out to return for the playoffs where the Bengals narrowly lost to the Steelers in the opening round. The Alabama product did not look like a world-beater while he was filling in for Dalton, but he did do a capable job.

After losing Dalton last year, Lewis understands the importance of having a solid No. 2 quarterback on the roster. By the same token, it’s hard to imagine McCarron having any type of “untouchable” status. If a QB-needy team makes a strong offer, we’d expect the Bengals to consider it.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Latest On Bengals QB A.J. McCarron

December 29th, 2015 at 1:26pm CST by Zachary Links

Bengals quarterback A.J. McCarron suffered a wrist sprain on the final play of Monday night’s loss against the Broncos and the injury is significant, according to a source who spoke with Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The injury is on the left wrist and McCarron, a right-handed QB, is intent on playing in Week 17 if possible. However, the Bengals won’t know his status for sure until later in the week. The good news here is that an MRI has shown that there is no fracture (link).

Losing McCarron for the regular season finale against the Ravens would only be half bad. If the AFC North champs are forced to go into the playoffs without the services of the Alabama QB, they’ll have to turn to Keith Wenning, the former Ball State quarterback who was selected by in the sixth round of the 2014 draft. Wenning, of course, was lined up as the Bengals’ third-string QB before a thumb injury sidelined starter Andy Dalton.

In order for the Bengals to get a first round bye, they’ll need to beat the Ravens in Week 17 and get a Broncos loss as they face the Chargers.

AFC Notes: Manning, Tannehill, McCarron, Pats

December 14th, 2015 at 7:13pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Thanks to unimpressive showings over the last two weeks, including in Sunday’s 15-12 loss to Oakland, Brock Osweiler‘s hold on the Broncos’ starting quarterback job looks tenuous. Furthering the possibility of an eventual switch back to Peyton Manning is that head coach Gary Kubiak was reluctant Monday to name a starter for this Sunday’s game in Pittsburgh. Kubiak had announced Osweiler as the starter the previous four Mondays, and as Lindsay H. Jones of USA Today writes, he could be leaving open the possibility of Manning returning to practice this week and ultimately reclaiming the job.

Manning has been out since mid-November with a plantar fascia injury, but he is making progress in his recovery, according to Troy Renck of The Denver Post.