Bills agree to 2-year deal with former Bengals QB AJ McCarron
After watching most of the free-agent quarterback market fall into place, AJ McCarron has found his landing spot.
The Buffalo Bills announced on Wednesday that they have reached a two-year deal with the former Cincinnati Bengals backup.
We've agreed to terms on a two-year deal with QB AJ McCarron.
Welcome to Buffalo, @10AJMcCarron! pic.twitter.com/hH1yZH5EiV
— Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) March 14, 2018
McCarron is one of the last dominoes to fall in an active quarterback market that has seen Kirk Cousins (Vikings), Case Keenum (Broncos), Sam Bradford (Cardinals), Teddy Bridgewater (Jets) and Mike Glennon (Cardinals) all change teams while Drew Brees (Saints) and Josh McCown (Jets) re-upped.
The Bills have an obvious need under center after trading Tyrod Taylor to the Cleveland Browns and appear ready to see how McCarron competes with a likely high-profile rookie next season.
The upcoming NFL draft is loaded with first-round quarterback prospects, and the Bills have been aggressive in moving up. Buffalo traded left tackle Cordy Glenn to the Bengals on Monday to move from the 21st pick to the 12th pick in the first round. The team now has four picks in the first two rounds and could look to upgrade further to grab the rookie quarterback it covets.
Yahoo’s Charles Robinson reports that the Bills are considering trade options to move ahead of the New York Jets, who hold the sixth pick.
A league source tells Yahoo Sports the Buffalo #Bills will explore trade scenarios to move into the top five picks in the #NFL draft (QB-needy #Jets hold 6th pick). Talks are expected to materialize after first week of free agency and intensify at the Orlando owner's meetings.
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) March 13, 2018
Meanwhile, Pro Football Talk reported that McCarron’s terms are in line with backup money.
AJ McCarron deal in Buffalo: Two years, $10 million with $6.5 million upside based on playing time. Per source.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 15, 2018
A fifth-round pick out of Alabama in 2014, McCarron has backed up Andy Dalton since joining the NFL. He started three games in 2015 when Dalton suffered a broken thumb, leading the team to a 2-1 record. He also started a playoff game that season, throwing for 212 yards with a touchdown and an interception in a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
McCarron has thrown for 920 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions in 11 regular season NFL appearances, several of them limited in end-of-game situations.
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