Report: Broncos to Shop Case Keenum After Joe Flacco Trade
After agreeing to a trade with the Ravens for veteran quarterback Joe Flacco, the Denver Broncos will now shop QB Case Keenum, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported.
Keenum is guaranteed $7 million in 2019 in the final year of his two-year, $36 million contract. Denver signed the former Vikings quarterback before the 2018 season. Keenum went 6–10 as their starter with 18 touchdowns and 15 interceptions last year.
If they cannot find a partner for Keenum, Rapoport added that there will reportedly either be a massive paycut or a straight release for the QB.
Denver finished No. 24 in scoring last season under Keenum. Head coach Vance Joseph was fired on Dec. 31 and replaced by former Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who spent one season in Baltimore while Flacco was the Ravens signal caller.
During his introductory press conference, Fangio said that Keenum was his quarterback for "right now," per CBS Sports, but Broncos general manager John Elway clarified that "Case is probably a short-term fix," and told reporters that the team was still looking for "the long-term guy for us."
While speculation swirled that Denver would target a quarterback in this year's draft, Flacco, 34, could be the long-term option instead. Flacco spent 11 seasons in Baltimore, becoming the Ravens' all-time leader in wins, touchdown passes and passing yards.
Keenum played for Houston in college, where he became the NCAA's all-time leader in total passing yards, touchdowns and completions. The 30-year-old QB signed with the Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2012, throwing for 1,760 yards and 9 touchdowns in the eight games he started in Houston, before being waived prior to the 2014 season.
He then spent time with the Rams and the Texans again during the next three seasons, before playing one season in Minnesota in 2017.
Keenum has made 54 career starts through 57 games played, going 26–28 during his seven NFL seasons.