Cincinnati Bengals working to trade QB A.J. McCarron

CINCINNATI, Jan. 2 (UPI) — Despite its 6-9-1 record, the Cincinnati Bengals were recently touted as having one of the deepest rosters in the NFL.

This offseason, it will look to trade some of that depth at a key position. According to Paul Dehner of the Cincinnati Enquirer, trading backup quarterback A.J. McCarron “is a part of the offseason itinerary.”

Dehner wrote that it is a “matter of when, where and who will provide the most value.”

Jim Owczarski wrote Monday that McCarron “looked and sounded like a man saying his goodbyes.”

“Now, it’s nothing I can do,” McCarron told the Enquirer. “I try not to worry about it. You’re always gonna think about it. I’d be lyin’; whoever told you that I wouldn’t, or if they were going through the same situation, you’re going to think about it. Because you want to play as a competitor. I’ll let my agent handle everything and go with whatever he says.”

In March, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio that McCarron would not be traded during the offseason.

Now the Bengals could have a hard time in getting a big return for the backup. Last offseason, the Houston Texans signed former Denver Broncos backup quarterback Brock Osweiler to a four-year $72 million contract. Osweiler, who had just seven career starts prior to the signing, went on to be benched in Houston. This season, he completed just 59 percent of his passes for 2,957 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions.

McCaron, 26, has completed 79-of-119 passes for 854 yards, six touchdowns, and two interceptions in seven games for the Bengals. He completed 23-of-41 passes for 212 yards, a score, and an interception in the Bengals’ 2015 AFC Wildcard loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. McCarron is due $735,413 next season before hitting free agency in 2018.