Los Angeles Chargers

NFL rumors: 5 possible landing spots for Zach Mettenberger

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Jul 30, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers quarterback Zach Mettenberger (4) throws a pass during training camp at Chargers Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

The San Diego Chargers have released quarterback Zach Mettenberger, but here are five teams that could consider signing him.

Zach Mettenberger was waived by the Tennessee Titans in mid-May, and he was quickly claimed by the San Diego Chargers. The fit looked very good, with former Titans’ head coach Ken Whisenhunt back in San Diego as offensive coordinator and the need for depth behind Philip Rivers, but the Chargers released Mettenberger themselves on Tuesday.

Mettenberger played in 14 games and started 10 contests for Tennessee over his first two seasons, with 12 touchdown passes, 14 interceptions and a 60.3 completion percentage for his career. He has ideal size, at 6-foot-5, 224 pounds, but a lack of mobility and overall pocket awareness have held him back. The perception of potential surrounding Mettenberger is quickly fading, with a 16.5 total QBR to back that up.

It’s worth noting the New York Giants and Cincinnati Bengals put in waiver claims on Mettenberger in May. So there should be some interest from the other 31 teams, besides the Chargers of course, if only because he has youth (25 years old) and some starting experience on his side.

Mettenberger obviously won’t find a realistic shot at a starting job right now, with Week 1 fast approaching. But he should have little trouble latching on somewhere, and here are five teams that could be a fit for the LSU product.

Mandatory Credit: Wesley Hitt-Getty Images

5. Pittsburgh Steelers

Ben Roethlisberger is 34 years old now, and he’s played all 16 games just twice in the last seven seasons. Bruce Gradkowski’s likely season-ending hamstring injury has solidified Landry Jones as Roethlisberger’s backup, with Bryn Renner No. 3 on the depth chart right now.

Jones threw four interceptions in the first half of Pittsburgh’s second preseason game. Even with a solid bounce-back effort last week, he inspires little confidence about a relatively seamless transition if Roethlisberger were injured again. In seven games played last season, including two starts, Jones completed 58.2 percent of his passes with three touchdowns and four interceptions. A small sample size has to be noted (55 attempts), but Jones does not look like a future NFL starter.

The Steelers aren’t obviously in the market for a quarterback, but Roethlisberger’s injury history and age points to the idea they should be. As a possible No.3 quarterback with experience, and potential competition for Jones eventually, Mettenberger is a fit in Pittsburgh.

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4. Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks currently have undrafted rookies Trevone Boykin and Jake Heaps behind Russell Wilson. Tarvaris Jackson could have eventually been back as the backup, but some off the field trouble has made that extremely unlikely.

Seattle is surely still in the market for a veteran quarterback, and even if he stretches that definition, Mettenberger may now be the best available option.

Any significant injury to Wilson would derail Seattle’s Super Bowl hopes. He has also drawn preseason criticism from head coach Pete Carroll about holding the ball too long behind an iffy offensive line. Wilson’s mobility is perhaps his greatest asset, but it also makes him a bit more susceptible to big hits and injuries.

Boykin is a better replica of Wilson’s skill set, with mobility and arm strength that could allow the Seahawks to keep the same core offensive principles. Mettenberger is an absolute statue in the pocket by comparison, but Carroll’s coaching staff has shown the adaptability to get the most out of players. Quite frankly, Seattle could be a very nice landing spot for Mettenberger.

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3. New York Giants

As previously mentioned, the Giants submitted a waiver claim on Mettenberger a few months ago. Their quarterback depth chart inspires less and less confidence the further down you go, with Ryan Nassib and the suddenly very well-traveled Logan Thomas behind Eli Manning.

Manning has the longest consecutive starts streak in the league right now, but he is 35 years old and won’t hold up forever. Nassib has been the backup basically by default since being drafted in 2013, but he has not had a good preseason thus far. The training camp reviews of Thomas were not very good either, so he’s no threat to Nassib, and his spot on the Giants’ 53-man roster is far from guaranteed.

The Giants can easily consider Mettenberger as an upgrade over Nassib. Even with a new playbook to learn at this late stage of the preseason, having the opportunity to be “in the room” with Manning would lessen that learning curve without immediate pressure to be ready to play.

A decision to cut Thomas and bring in Mettenberger should be easy for the Giants. In time, Nassib could be looking over his shoulder as the No.2 spot on the depth chart/potential quarterback of the future.

Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

2. Minnesota Vikings

When Teddy Bridgewater missed the Vikings’ second preseason game with a sore shoulder, Shaun Hill started and got an extended opportunity with the first-team offense. The 36-year old is a perfectly serviceable backup, but it’s easy to tie the Vikings to virtually any available quarterback. They had rumored interest in Nick Foles before he signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, so general manager Rick Spielman is surely monitoring the transaction wires closely right now.

The opportunity to work with the Vikings’ offensive staff, including Norv Turner and Pat Shurmur, would benefit any quarterback. The vertical passing attack Turner tends to favor fits Mettenberger’s skill set too, so he could have success if he’s forced into action.

Bridgewater’s smallish frame makes him a durability concern, particularly if the Vikings’ offensive line remains leaky this season. Even the remote prospect of Hill starting multiple games is a scary thought, and any positive buzz surrounding the team would diminish immediately. Mettenberger would be a theoretical upgrade, at least, and it wouldn’t be hard for him not to be better than Hill if he had to play.

On the note of a Bridgewater injury, he went down at Tuesday’s practice and early indications aren’t good.

Bad scene. Bridgewater down in pocket grabbing left knee. Players freaked out, swearing and praying. Immobilized. Practice halted #Vikings

— Brian Murphy (@murphPPress) August 30, 2016

A significant loss of time for Bridgewater would only make this a more natural destination.

Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

1. Dallas Cowboys

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported the Chargers talked to the Cowboys before releasing Mettenberger, so it’s easy to connect the dots now that he’s available.

Tony Romo’s timetable to return from a fractured bone in his back is at best uncertain, but he looks sure to be out through Dallas’ Week 7 bye. Rookie Dak Prescott will take Romo’s place as Dallas’ starting quarterback for as long as necessary, but Kellen Moore’s season-ending ankle injury early in training camp has left Jameill Showers in place as No. 2 on the depth chart.

The rumor mill has tied the Cowboys to virtually every possible available quarterback since Moore was injured. That includes Mark Sanchez most recently, who the Denver Broncos may be looking to trade or could wind up releasing.

Mettenberger would automatically become the Cowboys’ most experienced healthy quarterback, for better or worse. Among the current options to add depth at the position, that should automatically grab the attention of Jerry Jones.