The Denver Broncos got off to a promising start to the 2021 campaign, winning their first three games before the struggles started to kick in. Amid shabby play from Teddy Bridgewater, and a subsequent injury that knocked him out for a few weeks, neither he nor Drew Lock looked like a reliable option under center going forward. After finishing the year at 7-10, new head coach Nathaniel Hackett will be looking for some immediate improvements.
This is a talented football team with stars on both sides of the ball. With Javonte Williams emerging as an RB1, and the trio of Tim Patrick, Courtland Sutton, and Jerry Jeudy all coming into their own, the team, offensively, feels like it's a starting-caliber quarterback away from being a real threat in the AFC.
Of course, the links to Aaron Rodgers have run rampant amid the hiring of Hackett, but it's impossible to say if that's realistic for the Broncos at this point. The Packers will be doing everything they can to keep the franchise quarterback happy. That said, if Rodgers does demand a trade, Denver would be an ideal landing spot, considering their significant cap space (projected at over $38 million) and quality of potentially tradeable draft capital.
With that in mind, here are a few reasons why the Broncos can't afford to be passive in the offseason when it comes to making a splash in the quarterback market.
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3 reasons the Broncos must make a big splash at QB
3. Drew Lock is not the answer long-term
Drew Lock has shown flashes of being a starting-caliber quarterback, but he's far too mistake-prone to lead the Broncos to a Super Bowl. The former second-round pick has thrown 25 touchdowns and 20 interceptions across his first three NFL seasons, starting a total of 21 games. He's fumbled 13 times in addition to his 20 picks, and has a career completion percentage of just 59.3%. Lock is certainly a serviceable backup, and having a talented QB waiting in the wings is always a plus, but to have him start 17 games for a team with playoff aspirations simply won't suffice.
Teddy Bridgewater, as much as Lock, is also not the long-term solution for the Broncos. He was solid, yet not spectacular, and as was proven throughout the season, the Broncos need someone more capable of leading a team through the air if they want to be serious contenders.
2. Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson are both (potentially) available
It's not too often that a superstar quarterback becomes available for trade or even hits free agency, but there's a pair of them that could be poached this offseason if a team is willing to pony up. Well, the Broncos should absolutely be willing to swoop in for a trade to land one of Rodgers or Wilson, should either truly be available for trade. The opportunity to add a talented and experienced quarterback to an already well-built roster doesn't come often, so the Broncos need to seize the moment and ensure they're actively pursuing the pair.
Rodgers, despite being 38, is coming off of back-to-back MVP seasons, and would instantly make the Broncos Super Bowl favorites. He's showed no signs of slowing down, despite his playoff woes this year, and would also make Denver a more enticing place for free agents. Much of the same can be said about Wilson, who is 33. Adding a high-profile quarterback would be a signal from Denver to the rest of the league that they're all in this season.
1. The offense is extremely young and talented right now
The Broncos are in the favorable position of having some of their best players still playing on their rookie deals. While that means they'll be due for big paydays in the future, the Broncos will still have an abundance of available funds to use this offseason to bring in the missing pieces. Adding a top quarterback to this offense would do wonders for not only the team's immediate success, but the development of players like Sutton, Jeudy, and even Williams.
The defense typically handles their side of the bargain, and with emerging talents like Patrick Surtain looking to take strides in 2022, it's the offense that needs addressing this offseason. Adding a top-tier quarterback to this group would allow Sutton and Jeudy to be getting the best possible chances to come away with grabs, while also forcing the defense to ease off of the rush game, at which point Williams would thrive.
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