The free agent pool for veteran backup QB options is draining quickly
Jared Goff remains the only quarterback under contract for the Detroit Lions. After the first few days of free agency, the Lions have yet to add a veteran who could back up Goff. The remaining options in free agency are quickly dwindling, too.
Several of the leading options for Lions GM Brad Holmes have already signed elsewhere. The latest is Cooper Rush, who returned to the Dallas Cowboys on a two-year deal worth $6 million–a perfectly affordable rate for an experienced, quality backup QB.
Rush joins Gardner Minshew, Andy Dalton, Jarrett Stidham, Drew Locke and others as viable options to back up Goff now off the market. Case Keenum, Marcus Mariota, Nick Mullens, P.J. Walker, Sam Darnold — they’re all gone, too.
Not all of those were viable options for Detroit; some would have been poor schematic fits or too expensive for the role. However, that’s looking like the reality of the remaining quarterbacks in free agency. Names like Carson Wentz and Teddy Bridgewater have experience but likely draw bigger contracts than the Lions figure to devote to the position. Other options include Mason Rudolph, John Wolford, Brandon Allen or Nathan Peterman — none of whom would represent upgrades over lats year’s No. 2, Nate Sudfeld, who also remains available.
Lions GM Brad Holmes knows he’s ‘got to do a better job’ at getting a backup QB
