The Denver Broncos have found a new starting quarterback for 2019 by acquiring Joe Flacco in a trade, and it seems unlikely that Case Keenum will remain with the team in the wake of the deal.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that the Broncos will be fielding trade offers for Keenum, whom they signed to a two-year, $36 million contract last offseason. If they cannot find a trade partner, Keenum will have to either take a massive pay cut or be released.
The #Broncos will now shop QB Case Keenum, who is guaranteed $7M in 2019, I’m told. If they can’t, it’s either a massive paycut or a straight up release. He’d be a top backup.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 13, 2019
The Broncos probably are not opposed to keeping Keenum as a backup to Flacco, but but the 30-year-old likely wants another opportunity to start. He earned himself a big free agent contract by having an excellent season with the Minnesota Vikings in 2017, and there are plenty of teams still in need of quarterback help.
Denver would have to eat a large chunk of money by cutting Keenum, but they don’t want to pay a backup quarterback $18 million. There was originally some thought that the financial ramifications could result in the Broncos sticking with Keenum as their starter, but that is obviously not going to happen.
