Case Keenum rumors: 5 best fits in NFL free agency

After a breakthrough 2017 campaign, here are the five best fits for Case Keenum in NFL free agency.

With Teddy Bridgewater working his way back from a major knee injury and Sam Bradford coming out of Week 1 with a knee issue of his own, Case Keenum got the first real starting opportunity of his career with the Minnesota Vikings last season. He stepped up big, completing over 67 percent of his passes for over 3,500 yards with 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions over 15 games (14 starts) as Minnesota went 13-3 and reached the NFC Championship Game.

Keenum is now set to be a free agent, coming off what will probably stand as a career season for essentially a career backup. But the dearth of capable starting quarterbacks around the league will bring suitors, and a potential opportunity to earn a starting job out of training camp. Going back to the Vikings is possible, but it’s easy to see a better multi-year deal coming Keenum’s way from elsewhere.

Keenum’s 2017 breakthrough was a great coming together of opportunity and being in concert with a highly adaptable offensive coordinator in Pat Shurmur. That will be a tough situation to repeat, especially with Shurmur now the New York Giants’ head coach, but these five teams look like the best free agency fits for Keenum.

5. New York Giants

Shurmur and Eli Manning have said all the right things about working together, and general manager Dave Gettleman has gone public with similar words about Manning having something left in the tank. But take away the name on the back of the jersey, and we’ve seen a pretty mediocre quarterback over the last couple seasons.

The Giants may take Manning’s successor with the second overall pick in April’s draft, or perhaps on Day 2, and it’s assumed the two-time Super Bowl MVP will be back next season. But if Manning’s status changes, perhaps with a trade offer from elsewhere (Jacksonville?), Keenum could be in play as a fallback option that Shurmur is familiar with.

The tie to Shurmur is all that puts the Giants on this list right now. But if things take shape a certain way, there’s a chance of a quick reunion for Keenum.