Sifting through possible Tony Romo destinations
Todd Archer
ESPN Staff Writer
FRISCO, Texas -- If you want to see what Tony Romo looks like in a jersey for the Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears or New York Jets, you should read this story.
ESPN put together a list of the possible Romo landing spots in 2017 and included the Cowboys. Personally, I believe the only way Romo returns to the Cowboys in 2017 is as the named starter right now. And we know that’s not happening.
The teams were put in two categories: “realistic chance” and “long shot but not impossible.”
The Cowboys, Bears and Jets were in the “realistic chance” category. I’ve already told you how I feel about Romo’s chances of returning to the Cowboys. The Bears have a former Romo teammate at Eastern Illinois, Ryan Pace, as their general manager, but they don’t appear close to winning. Jets coach Todd Bowles was on the Cowboys’ staff early in Romo’s tenure in Dallas, but the Jets don’t appear close to winning, either. Plus, the New England Patriots are a formidable road block in the division.
The Bills, Broncos, Chiefs, Browns, Texans and Niners were in the “long shot but not impossible,” category.
Let’s eliminate the Bills and Browns because they’re not close to winning, either.
The Niners are intriguing because of Kyle Shanahan. He has admired Romo from afar. His dad, Mike, was and remains a big fan of Romo’s. Mike Shanahan tried to sign him as an undrafted rookie in 2003 and has maintained a relationship with Romo. The Niners have a lot of cap room ($80 million) and a good running back (Carlos Hyde), but not much else.
But there’s $80 million in cap room and six draft picks in the top 150. Perhaps there’s a chance for a quick turnaround, especially with a motivated ownership group that has been mocked since parting ways with Jim Harbaugh.
The Chiefs have Alex Smith under contract, but is he a quarterback good enough to get a team to the playoffs but not make enough plays when it counts? Andy Reid has coached against Romo and knows his strengths. The Chiefs have a more-than-solid defense with quality pass-rushers, especially if Justin Houston is healthy. The Chiefs are near the bottom of the league in terms of cap space, but that can be changed quickly.
Since Romo was shown at an inauguration party with John Elway, everybody wants to put the Broncos at the top of the list. They have a championship-ready defense. Elway has shown he will do whatever it takes to win. They have formidable offensive weapons, but a line that is somewhat spotty. Since the season ended, the Broncos publicly have backed Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch, whom the Cowboys regretted not trading up to draft last spring.
If Romo goes to Denver, then he has to match what Peyton Manning did. Those are big shoes, but it’s not something Romo would run from at all.
In Houston, Romo would have to be better than … Brock Osweiler. And that’s a lot easier. Plus, the AFC South is not the strongest of divisions, although the Tennessee Titans appear to be on the come. The Indianapolis Colts have Andrew Luck, but seem to be a mess internally. The Jacksonville Jaguars are well, the Jaguars.
The Texans have won three straight division titles with, politely, uneven quarterback play. They have a good running back in Lamar Miller. They have a solid receiver in DeAndre Hopkins. And they have the best statistical defense in the NFL and will welcome back J.J. Watt in 2017. Coach Bill O’Brien can have an innovative offense if he has a quarterback that can run it, and Romo has that capability.
Osweiler is guaranteed another $16 million from the Texans in 2017, but nothing is impossible when it comes to contracts in the NFL.
If the financials can work all the way around, Houston would make the most sense for Romo. It gives him the best chance to win right now.
But there will be suitors for Romo. Maybe more than we can possibly know right now.