When the 2017 NFL season ended, the Bengals anticipated A.J. McCarron being their backup quarterback for a fifth season, but an arbitrator ruled in his favor, granting him free agency after four seasons with the Bengals.
McCarron left for the Buffalo Bills for a chance to be a starter, though with their drafting of Josh Allen, McCarron will face another challenge in his endeavor to become a starting quarterback. While this is good for McCarron to challenge for a starting job, his departure left the Bengals with a void on their roster at the backup quarterback spot.