There's no great time during training camp for an NFL team to suddenly need a quarterback. That seems especially true this summer, now that the hottest QB trade candidate in recent years, Jimmy Garoppolo, is off the market.
While there are some interesting names to consider, decision-makers think the QB trade market is less appealing than usual.
"I looked at the group last week," an exec said, "and I thought it was one of the worst groups of backup quarterbacks that I could remember."
There still could be some aftershocks following an offseason that saw 10 starters from 2017 Week 1 games change teams (an 11th, Carson Palmer, retired). I've separated potential trade candidates into a few categories reflecting their appeal and availability, with one name standing above the rest.
Should be available and should have trade value
Teddy Bridgewater, New York Jets
The Jets signed the 25-year-old Bridgewater to a one-year, $6 million contract in March, before they knew which quarterback they might select in the draft. With bridge starter Josh McCown and No. 3 overall draft pick Sam Darnold on the roster, the Jets could conceivably trade Bridgewater, whose reconstructed knee has held up to this point in training camp.
Bridgewater went 17-11 as the Minnesota Vikings' starter in the 2014 and 2015 seasons. He had 28 touchdown passes, 21 interceptions, an 87.1 passer rating and a 55.1 Total QBR in those starts. He could be a decent starting option for a team with immediate or longer-term needs.
"Bridgewater is the one that makes the most sense," an exec said. "He has upside, the Jets already have a young guy they love and a veteran who makes them competitive, and that veteran has less value to anyone else."
This exec thought a team holding additional compensatory choices in the future could be in prime position to take a chance on Bridgewater, even if the cost were as high as a third-round pick. The New England Patriots will be flush with comp picks in 2019, and they could use a quarterback to groom as Tom Brady's eventual replacement. Would the Jets consider trading within the division? It's only a hypothetical at this point.
A different exec said trading Bridgewater could be difficult for contractual reasons. The acquiring team would be on the hook for $5 million in salary, plus another $250,000 for every game in which Bridgewater plays at least half the snaps. That could make the QB a candidate for release or a pay cut in this exec's view, but if a serious need at the position were to arise, Bridgewater would seem to be both attractive and available.
Should be available and could have trade value
Mike Glennon, Arizona Cardinals
Arizona could need Glennon if Sam Bradford's knees betray him, but the longer Bradford is healthy, the more expendable Glennon appears. He was signed as insurance before the Cardinals knew they would land Josh Rosen in the draft. Now, with Rosen and Bradford looking sharp in camp, the future for Glennon could be elsewhere.
Why would anyone want him? The numbers Glennon put up during four starts with Chicago last season mirrored the numbers Jay Cutler put up with the Bears a year earlier: four touchdowns, five picks, passer rating in the upper 70s, QBR in the 20s.
Neither quarterback was good, but Chicago might have been the NFL's worst situation from a weapons standpoint. Any team that thought Glennon had some appeal a year ago could conceivably blame his 2017 struggles on especially rough circumstances in Chicago.
Glennon has a 6-16 record as a starter for his career. His 47.3 QBR as a starter is comparable to those of Derek Carr and Bradford.
"Arizona would need to get a good return to pull the trigger because Glennon will be a good value next year [in 2019] at $3 million with nothing guaranteed, assuming he would be Rosen's backup then," an exec said.
Quarterback trades this time of year are the exception, with a short list of players that includes Tarvaris Jackson, Thaddeus Lewis, Ryan Mallett, Matt Barkley, Sam Bradford and Jacoby Brissett.
"Glennon makes the most sense to me," an evaluator said, noting that free-agent quarterbacks such as Derek Anderson or Matt Moore could be just as likely to surface as veteran trade acquisitions.
Could be available, but value is questionable
Drew Stanton, Cleveland Browns
Stanton is 34 years old and has never started more than eight games in a season. He has an 11-6 starting record with underwhelming stats in those starts: 53.5 percent completions, 17 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, 72.8 passer rating, 46.5 QBR.
The Browns signed Stanton after acquiring Tyrod Taylor and before drafting Baker Mayfield. Like Glennon in Arizona, he's an insurance policy that is no longer as necessary, though his contract would make him a bargain as Mayfield's backup beyond 2018.
Might not be available, but must be mentioned
Nick Foles, Philadelphia Eagles
The Super Bowl MVP has value to Philadelphia while starter Carson Wentz rounds into form following a serious knee injury.
"There is too much unknown with Carson's injury, and if trading Foles did not work out, they will be criticized," an exec said of the Eagles.
The offensive coaches around the league who might value Foles the most -- Andy Reid in Kansas City, Frank Reich in Indianapolis, Matt Nagy in Chicago and John DeFilippo in Minnesota -- all have strongly entrenched starters. And if the Eagles were to trade Foles, they wouldn't seem to have a viable replacement, in part because the backups familiar to Philly coach Doug Pederson are under contract elsewhere.
"Foles had value before the season, especially in May, when teams did not get quarterbacks in the draft," an exec said. "As much as people want to say [current Eagles No. 3 QB] Nate Sudfeld is ready to go, with Nick not having a big contract, you don't get too cute in their situation."
Another exec offered an alternative view.
"I would argue that maybe you give up more than you think you should for Foles," this exec said. "If you have nothing, you have no chance. Maybe a second?"
But could Eagles general manager Howie Roseman justify parting with a Super Bowl-winning backup before his own starter is all the way back?
"Howie signed a deal through 2022," an exec said. "The problem is that they would have to find someone they like as their backup, and who is that? It would be someone who has been through Kansas City that Doug Pederson would like. There is not really another Chase Daniel, so some things would have to happen to make it work."
Sam Bradford, Arizona Cardinals
If Rosen plays well enough in preseason to win the job and another team suddenly needs a starter, Arizona could be in position to pull off the sort of trade Philadelphia executed with Minnesota two years ago. That deal sent Bradford from the Eagles to the Vikings following Bridgewater's injury. It helped that one of Bradford's former coaches, Pat Shurmur, was already in Minnesota to help smooth the transition.
However, Bradford has a no-trade clause in his contract, and it's tough to envision a similar set of circumstances coming together. Even if those circumstances materialized, the Cardinals might prefer to have both Bradford and Rosen as options this season.
"Glennon would be more in play than Bradford," an evaluator said.
Ten QBs who might or might not be available one way or another (trade or release)
Robert Griffin III, Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens could be set with Joe Flacco and Lamar Jackson.
Paxton Lynch, Denver Broncos: It looks like the Broncos made a mistake using a first-round pick for Lynch, but one evaluator said he thought Denver would be slow to give up on a first-round pick.
Cooper Rush, Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys possess no meaningful experience behind starter Dak Prescott, so if they love rookie fifth-round choice Mike White, they could conceivably try to get value for Rush, a 2017 preseason star. "I doubt they consider anything unless it blows them away," an exec said, noting that Rush is the only non-rookie backup at the position, and he's inexpensive as well.
Landry Jones, Pittsburgh Steelers: One salary-cap manager thought it would be tough for a championship contender such as the Steelers to enter the season with a rookie, Mason Rudolph, behind starter Ben Roethlisberger. That could lead to Jones sticking around. Any team acquiring him would have to be desperate for a backup signed only through 2018.
Matt McGloin, Kansas City Chiefs: One insider said he could see a personnel evaluator thinking McGloin could upgrade a backup situation elsewhere, but it's tough to envision McGloin commanding much in return unless he lights up the preseason beyond all expectations; a trade is a long shot.
Geno Smith, Los Angeles Chargers: The Jets' 2013 second-round pick is battling Cardale Jones for the backup job behind Philip Rivers.
Cardale Jones, Los Angeles Chargers: The team's decision to sign Smith this offseason showed that a roster spot is not assured for Jones, despite his history with coach Anthony Lynn in Buffalo.
EJ Manuel, Oakland Raiders: Will there be a spot on the roster for the player Buffalo surprisingly selected 16th overall in 2013?
Brett Hundley, Green Bay Packers: The Packers are expected to keep DeShone Kizer over Hundley after trading cornerback Damarious Randall to Cleveland for him. Kizer's salary is guaranteed.
Nathan Peterman, Buffalo Bills: Peterman has been alternating first-team reps with AJ McCarron. If McCarron wins the job and Josh Allen is the backup, then what?