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A year after being the top quarterback in free agency and agreeing to a two-year, $10 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Josh McCown is back on the open market after being released today. The Buccaneers floundered to a 2-14 record with McCown starting 11 of those games. The team is expected to select either Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota or Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston with the top overall selection in April's NFL Draft.
Releasing McCown, who had no guaranteed money remaining on his contract, saves Tampa Bay $5.25 million against the salary cap this year. He is immediately available to sign with another team.
To spin this in a Miami Dolphins direction, McCown should not be an expensive signing, if the Dolphins were to look at him as a potential replacement for backup quarterback Matt Moore. After failing horribly in Tampa Bay, McCown should be cheaper than the $4 million salary cap number Moore, who will be a free agent next month if Miami does not find a way to re-sign him, had during the 2015 season. It is an option.
To be clear, it is not an option I would suggest to Dolphins general manager Dennis Hickey, but it is an option.