Tony Romo: Three NFL Teams That Make the Most Trade Sense

By foxsports
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Oct 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) looks on from the sideline during the third quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi

Tony Romo is going to be the talk of the NFL for the next few months as the Dallas Cowboys decide what to do about his future.

Jerry Jones has tried to maintain his always fierce loyalty to the quarterback, but it’s clear Dak Prescott has forced a changing of the guard. Romo is now the backup in Dallas and unlikely to stay there in 2016. Early rumors insist he’ll either go to a different team or retire. The Cowboys will certainly prefer to trade him if it’s the former. Regardless the time may be right to scout out possible destinations.

As always it comes down to two factors:  need and money. Romo carries a hefty $24.7 million salary cap hit next year. So it will take teams who have the space to burn. Here are the three that bare watching the most.

Denver Broncos

Ian Rapoport first reported the trade buzz on Romo recently. He claims a number of teams will have interest and Romo himself will have say in where he wants to go. The first team mentioned as a prime destination was the Broncos.

This shouldn’t be a surprise. Denver is the defending champion and won the Super Bowl with aging, hobbled Peyton Manning. They have one of the best defenses in the league and a serviceable offensive casts Romo would be able to work with. Besides, this team has a long history of helping aged veteran QBs go out on top. It’s kind of their thing.

Nov 13, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) runs off the field after Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Robert Ayers (91) gets a safety during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Chicago Bears 36-10. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Chicago Bears

This is more about connections. Chicago seems anxious to close the final chapter on the Jay Cutler era. He’s worn out his welcome with many in the organization. Perhaps the only way they could convince ownership, who seem loyal to him. to sign off is if they could bring in a veteran like Romo to keep some credibility at the position. Romo went to Eastern Illinois university. He grew up just 80 miles from Chicago in southern Wisconsin.

Another thing to keep in mind? He shared the same locker room briefly with Bears GM Ryan Pace. The two were teammates in college. Pace was a defensive end at Eastern. That familiarity may not seem deep but it could be important. Romo would give the Pace a bridge to the next quarterback whom many expect him to take in the 2017 draft. Romo would have one or two years at the helm of a fairly strong offensive cast and allow the rookie to learn from the sideline.

Nov 13, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) throws during the first half against the San Francisco 49ers at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Arizona Cardinals

Taking chances on veteran quarterbacks has done great things for the Cardinals in the past. Kurt Warner led them to the Super Bowl in 2008 at age 37. Carson Palmer got them to the NFC championship last year. Bruce Arians has shown a preference for experienced quarterbacks, so it’s not a hard sell to think Arizona might be interested in Romo. Especially given the recent downturn of effectiveness Palmer has experienced the past couple months.

He’s got just 11 touchdowns to eight interceptions. The edge he played with that made the Cardinals offense go has been absent. Is it the age creeping up on him or something else? One way or another the team may be faced with a decision soon. It may seem like going to Romo isn’t much of a change but he’s younger and has shown to be quite deadly when he has a good running game. David Johnson would certainly provided that.

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