5 Teams Where Philip Rivers Could Land After Parting Ways With the Los Angeles Chargers

On Monday, the Los Angeles Chargers announced that the team has decided to part ways with quarterback Philip Rivers, and he will enter free agency after spending 16 years with the team.

"After stepping back a bit from last season, we reconnected with Philip and his representatives to look at how 2019 played out, assess our future goals, evaluate the current state of the roster and see if there was a path forward that made sense for both parties," said Chargers' general manager Tom Telesco. "As we talked through various scenarios, it became apparent that it would be best for Philip and the Chargers to turn the page on what has truly been a remarkable run."

As Rivers enters free agency, there are a number of potential teams that could be interested in signing the veteran quarterback.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Prior to the Chargers' announcement, ESPN reported that Rivers had "permanently" moved from San Diego to Florida. "What this means football-wise is to be determined but it was time for us to move back closer to home," Rivers said in a text message to ESPN.

While the move may have nothing to do with his football future, Rivers could be a potential fit for the Buccaneers. Jameis Winston, the team's current quarterback, had an up-and-down season, throwing for 33 touchdowns but also 30 interceptions. Buccaneers' head coach, Bruce Arians, previously said that the team could "definitely win with another" quarterback, and if the team does not sign Winston to an extension or place the franchise tag on him, he will become a free agent, paving way for a potential signing of Rivers. Despite Rivers being 38 years old, pairing him with the team's impressive receivers of Mike Evans, Keenan Allen and Malcom Floyd could help the team improve on their 7–9 record from this past season.

Indianapolis Colts

Following Andrew Luck's early retirement from the NFL, the Colts were forced to resort to backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett as their starter. Similar to the Buccaneers, the Colts finished their season 7–9 and could look to Rivers as a veteran replacement. The Colts have a number of strong receivers to complement Rivers' throwing ability, and they also enter the offseason with the second most cap space in the league. Additionally, there is some coaching familiarity, with Colts' head coach Frank Reich, who served as Rivers' quarterback coach and offensive coordinator from 2013 to 2015.

Carolina Panthers

Following a 5–11 record this past season, the Panthers have made it clear that there is a major question mark surrounding the teams' quarterback position. Cam Newton was sidelined the entire 2019 season, forcing backup quarterback Kyle Allen to take the reins. Allen, however, was benched by the end of the season. In addition to the unsettled situation at quarterback, the team has also hired a new head coach, Matt Rhule, who may want to totally different direction from both quarterbacks and sign Rivers instead.

Tennessee Titans

The Titans are similar to the Panthers, Buccaneers and Colts in their current quarterback situation, but differ slightly considering the Titans finished their season with a 9–7 record, losing in the AFC conference championship game to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Titans played well with Ryan Tannehill as their quarterback, but he becomes a free agent this offseason. While Tannehill is a much younger option to Rivers, if the team cannot reach a contract agreement with him, it could look to Rivers.

Dallas Cowboys

At first glance, the Cowboys would seem to be an unlikely option to land Rivers given the fact they have Dak Prescott at quarterback, but there is a small wrinkle. Prior to the start of this past season, Prescott was determined to sign an extension with the team, but as the season went on, they were unable to come to an agreement. Also, there have been recent reports that the team is interested in placing the franchise tag on him. If Prescott does not want to accept the franchise tag and decides to hold out until a contract agreement is reached, the team could look to Rivers as a quick replacement.