This is looking to be a rather interesting year for quarterbacks in free agency. Some of this year’s free agents that may potentially be on new teams next year include Ryan Tannehill, Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota… and even Tom Brady. Not to mention a few guys that could end up being traded like Cam Newton or Andy Dalton or Josh Rosen. Then there’s Philip Rivers.
Like Brady, Rivers has been a long-time starter for his team (Los Angeles Chargers). But right now that future is uncertain due in part to his age and the poor season he’s coming off of. Rivers has indicated it’s not really up to him anymore whether the Chargers bring him back or not. And he and his family moving to Florida has sent off warning bells for some fans. Regardless, the two sides moving on seems quite possible right now. So what does happen to Rivers? Well, here are a few possibilities.
Possibilities for Philip Rivers in Free Agency
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
If Rivers ends up on a new team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers may be the best fit – and it would coincide well with his recent move to Florida. Their quarterback Winston is coming off probably the most inconsistent season of all time and is a free agent as well. There’s been speculation that head coach Bruce Arians has a preference for veteran quarterbacks anyway. And when Arians was with the Arizona Cardinals, Carson Palmer not only became relevant again but had possibly the best stretch of his career.
The more pass-heavy offense would suit Rivers pretty well, as long as the offensive line could hold up. He still has the arm strength, and the Buccaneers have two superb receivers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Even Breshad Perriman showed flashes down the stretch (though he’s a free agent too). And then there’s the tight end corps. Between the coaching and the weapon lineup, the Buccaneers would be a good fit for Rivers.
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts have been suggested as a possible spot for Tom Brady as well. It’d be a good place for either of those veteran quarterbacks because they’d actually have more protection from the o-line over there. There would also be less pressure to pass the ball heavily because the Colts actually run the ball as well.
Jacoby Brissett had a decent year, but he also faded a bit down the stretch. It’s unclear at this point whether the Colts want to invest in him for the foreseeable future or not. Let’s not forget, Brissett was only in this position because Andrew Luck retired abruptly. So while the Colts may not be looking to jettison Brissett, they might also be in the market if something lands in their lap. And given that they have their own share of young weapons and a good o-line, Rivers would probably do fine there.
Carolina Panthers
This is another spot where Rivers wouldn’t have to do everything, given that they would probably be relying more on Christian McCaffrey than the quarterback. Like the Chargers, the Carolina Panthers have a strong possibility of moving on from their veteran quarterback – Cam Newton, in their case. And they don’t look to have a good option beyond him right now. Kyle Allen proved too inconsistent and Will Grier… well, he kind of showed why the Panthers were so patient with Allen.
As such, the quarterback spot is wide open for them. Carolina doesn’t seem to be touted as much of an attractive option – probably since their franchise is in a state of flux, with their uncertain quarterback situation and the new owner jettisoning Ron Rivera and bringing in Matt Rhule, another college coach. Not to mention that beyond McCaffrey and D.J. Moore, they don’t have a ton of weapons right now. So while this is a possible landing spot, it seems a little less likely that Rivers would flourish here.
Back to the Chargers
While it may feel like a bit of a long shot at the moment, Philip Rivers going back to the Chargers is still possible. He’s still open to it, as is General Manager Tom Telesco. What could end up happening here is the Chargers bring back Rivers and then draft a quarterback with their sixth overall pick (Justin Herbert?), and let Rivers start for one or two more years while Herbert learns behind him. It seems more expected for rookies to start out of the gate these days. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s always the best decision.
It’s hard to say for sure whether Philip Rivers has anything left in the tank or not. But he still wants to play football. Given his history, it’s hard to imagine him not starting behind center for somebody next year. The question of who that will be or whether it will even be a new squad will be answered in the months to come.
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
