Buffalo Bills

2017 NFL Free Agency: 5 Possible Destinations for Mike Glennon

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 6:48 p.m. ET

Fansided, Randy Gurzi/FanSided via NFL Spin Zone

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Mike Glennon will be a key player in 2017 NFL free agency, but which 5 teams is he most likely to land with?

Quarterbacks are always a hot commodity, and one like Mike Glennon who has shown promise in his 18 starts are rarely able to hit the open market like he will be in 2017 NFL free agency. Although he has a record of just 5-13 as a starter, Glennon was the leader of a poor team during those games. He also didn't lose his job because of being a terrible player, but instead because the Tampa Bay Buccaneers used their first overall selection in 2015 on quarterback Jameis Winston out of Florida State.

In his rookie season, the third-round pick out of North Carolina State started in 13 games. He completed just over 59 percent of his passes, but displayed an incredibly strong arm. He finished with 2,608 yards, but what was most impressive was his care of the ball as he had 19 touchdowns to nine interceptions.

In his second season, the stats dipped some as Glennon completed around 57 percent of his passes, but still was on the positive side of the touchdown to interception ratio with 10 to six. The following season was when Winston was selected and since then Glennon has been considered a valuable backup.

While there's no mistaking Glennon for an elite prospect, he has shown some competencies as a starter. He may never be more than a placeholder or game manager, but some teams need that currently. With so many guys around the league struggling to even do that much, someone like Glennon surely deserves a chance to compete for a starting spot. Which five NFL teams are most likely to give him that chance?

Dec 24, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) before a game against the Miami Dolphins at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

5. Buffalo Bills

This one comes down to what the Buffalo Bills do with their starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor. Currently the Bills are expected to dump Taylor if they can't negotiate a new deal for him. Taylor has been a good quarterback for Buffalo, but like Glennon he isn't elite.

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So why would Buffalo want to move on from Taylor and replace him with a less experienced Glennon? Money, that's why. Taylor is due to make a boat load of cash if he is still on the Bills roster after March 11 according to Jared Dubin of CBS Sports.

Taylor currently has a cap hit of approximately $15.9 million for the 2017 season, per Spotrac, but only around $2.85 million of it is guaranteed. If he is still on Buffalo's roster after March 11, though, he is due a $15.5 million roster bonus, and $12 million of his 2017 base salary and $3.25 million of his 2018 base salary become guaranteed.

That's an awful lot of cheese for a guy who's best passing season resulted in 3,035 yards and 20 touchdowns. Glennon threw nearly that as a rookie. While he may not necessarily be an upgrade over Taylor, chances are he can be nearly as good. He also is a more traditional passer than the mobile Taylor and has the kind of strong arm teams in cold cities love.

Jan 14, 2017; Foxborough, MA, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler (17) at the line against the New England Patriots in the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

4. Houston Texans

Another backup quarterback for the Houston Texans? Maybe, but only if they don't land Tony Romo once he is free from the Dallas Cowboys. There would be a huge difference here though as Romo to the Texans makes them a legitimate Super Bowl threat right away. He's close to the elite level when he is on his game, but then there's a huge question mark about his health.

So maybe instead of paying a ton of money to Romo—a soon-to-be 37-year old—they instead take a flier on a 27-year old with some upside. Well, upside and a much more affordable contract. That of course is the key. If Houston ends up in a bidding war for Glennon, don't expect them to go crazy. They would probably be fine with an unproven player like him coming in and competing for a starting job, but after last season they won't be breaking the bank for just anyone.

In 2016 the Texans overpaid for Denver Broncos backup Brock Osweiler. After just seven starts as an NFL quarterback, Houston gave him $37 million guaranteed. His signing was supposed to solidify the position for them, but instead it just put them in a hole financially as they try to figure out a way out of this.

Perhaps the best thing to do would be kick the tires on Glennon. He is similar in size to Osweiler, but doesn't seem to throw the interceptions at as high of a rate. If he can be brought in on an affordable deal they can allow Glennon and Osweiler the chance to compete for the starting job.

Jan 1, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson talks with quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) during the second half against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 27-24 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

3. Cleveland Browns

So many of the rumors out there include the Cleveland Browns selecting Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett with the first overall pick. He's surely the No. 1 prospect according to most experts, and would make an immediate impact on the Browns defense. It's just scary to think about because they are so bad at quarterback.

Perhaps they can fix that before the draft by going for Mike Glennon in 2017 NFL free agency. Again, Glennon may not be a proven star, but their current starter is Robert Griffin III. RG3 is a proven veteran, although what he has proven is that he isn't any good. Ever since taking the league by storm as a rookie in 2012, Griffin has gotten considerably worse. Last season he also reminded the Browns that not only is he a horrific player, but he also can't stay healthy.

The Browns were the laughingstock of the NFL when they were forced into signing players off other team's practice squads and having to start them as their guys kept dropping like flies. Then they finally got Griffin back at the end of the year and he led them to a win—their only win.

Obviously the 1-15 Browns need a quarterback. They also need a receiver, a running back, some offensive line help, a pass rusher, a cornerback, a tight end—you get the picture. The smart play here may be to give up on RG3, sign Glennon and draft a rookie with their second of two first round picks. That would allow them to get the best player in the draft in Garrett while also ensuring that there's at least a competent option under center.

Feb 9, 2017; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan during a press conference at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

2. San Francisco 49ers

Another team with quarterback issues that's drafting early is the San Francisco 49ers. They own the second overall pick and like the Browns ahead of them, the 49ers may not use their early pick on a signal-caller. If both teams do pass on a quarterback, it's a pretty big indictment of the players coming out of the NCAA at that position.

The 2017 class of rookies isn't full of quarterback talent and rather than reach with their second pick, San Francisco could choose to sign a veteran like Mike Glennon and allow new head coach Kyle Shanahan to work with him and see what the two can accomplish together. Before scoffing at the idea look at the track record of the younger Shanahan. As an offensive coordinator he was able to call plays that led to Matt Schaub leading the NFL in passing yardage. He also was the offensive coordinator in Washington when RG3 looked like the next big thing.

Then, when he was given a competent quarterback like Matt Ryan, he helped him become the league MVP and the Atlanta Falcons nearly won a Super Bowl. Glennon isn't threatening to become a league MVP, but he's every bit as talented as Matt Schaub. So it isn't like Shanahan can't get some good production out of him.

Jan 1, 2017; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) and New York Jets quarterback Christian Hackenberg (5) warm up before a game against the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

1. New York Jets

The most likely landing spot for Mike Glennon to land during the 2017 NFL free agency period is the quarterback needy New York Jets. They found out last season that Ryan Fitzpatrick is not the answer. After leading them to ten wins the season before, Fitz and the Jets completely fell apart in 2016. He became turnover prone and was benched for the incompetent Geno Smith.

Speaking of Smith, the former second round pick has been awful throughout his time with the Jets and he too shouldn't be thought of as their potential starter. Behind both of them was former Baylor standout Bryce Petty. A fourth-round selection in 2015, Petty got some snaps in this past season and he did the impossible—made Fitzpatrick and Smith look good.

Of course they still have second round pick Christian Hackenberg, but the Penn State product was never allowed on the field. That means that either he isn't ready, or is just really, really bad. While his college tape leans more towards the really, really bad part, maybe he just needs time. That makes the Glennon signing seem even better. With him in town they could have a game manager similar to what they had in Fitzpatrick during their ten win season of 2015.

He can start as long as they need him to while Hackenberg develops. Then when they realize he is no good, they can start looking for a franchise guy again. All the while, Glennon under center means that they can at least be competitive while that search continues.