Report: Bengals believe AJ McCarron is starting material

Cincinnati Bengals second-year quarterback AJ McCarron may be coming after Andy Dalton's starting job in the near future.

Based on his performance during OTAs and mandatory minicamp, Bengals coaches believe McCarron is "fully capable of becoming a starting-quality player," NFL Media's Albert Breer reports.

McCarron, the Bengals' fifth-round selection last year, is throwing the ball better than ever and has been showcasing "top-notch pocket presence," according to Breer.

The Bengals went 10-5 with Dalton under center in 2014 and advanced to the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. However, their playoff win drought was extended to 24 years with a loss to the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC wild-card round.

Dalton's six-year, $96-million contract is essentially pay-as-you-go, and the Bengals can realistically opt out of the deal as soon as the end of this season.

While McCarron isn't an immediate threat to Dalton, him being deemed starting material suggests the Bengals could pull a switch should their starter continue to struggle in primetime and playoff situations.