Cincinnati Bengals backup quarterback AJ McCarron has won his grievance against the team and will now become an unrestricted free agent, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

The 27-year-old is expected to command significant interest among teams around the league when free agency opens in March.

McCarron's grievance dates back to his rookie season in 2014, when the Bengals drafted him in the fifth round. Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, McCarron initially passed his post-draft physical, but the Bengals placed him on the non-football injury (NFI) list, anyway, at the start of training camp due to a shoulder issue.

"In McCarron's opinion, he was healthy enough to come off the NFI list during training camp, which would have counted his rookie year towards free agency," Schefter wrote. "But Cincinnati didn't add McCarron to its active roster until Dec. 9, meaning it was too late for him to accrue a season toward his free agency."

Per multiple reports, the Cleveland Browns agreed to a deal to acquire McCarron from the Bengals on the final day before the trade deadline, but the deal fell through because Cleveland failed to notify the NFL before the 4 p.m. ET deadline.

Playing behind Andy Dalton, McCarron has played sparingly for the Bengals. In his career, McCarron has passed for 920 yards and six touchdowns on a career completion percentage of 66.4 per cent. In his lone career playoff start in 2015, McCarron threw for 212 yards and a touchdown in a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Before entering the NFL, McCarron starred at Alabama where he won three national titles as a member of the Crimson Tide.