The Denver Broncos traded for quarterback Joe Flacco in the offseason. It wasn't clear if they'd select another quarterback in the NFL Draft this year, in order to build for the future. However, when Drew Lock fell to the second round, they had to pounce.
Now, the quarterback is opening up about the challenges of adjusting to the NFL.
Drew Lock's honesty about the challenges of adjusting to the new system and the NFL in general is refreshing: pic.twitter.com/AqRpBBeZah
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) July 26, 2019
Drew Lock was projected to get drafted sometime in the first round. Mock drafts had him going as early as the 10th pick. However, he dropped and actually ended up in a good situation.
Article Continues BelowLock isn't being pressured to perform immediately. That is Flacco's burden. Freedom from Year 1 expectations gives him a chance to improve without a true timetable.
Yet, that doesn't mean adjusting to life in the NFL isn't difficult. Drew Lock talks about the competitive spirit he possesses and how that made him think the transition would be smooth. However, even in training camp, it's easy to tell that there's a massive difference in styles relative to the college game.
Another difficult hill to climb for Lock isn't just the NFL lifestyle, but more specifically, adjusting to not being top dog. For four years he was the starter in college. Now he's behind Joe Flacco. Not only is he behind Flacco, but he is fighting for the second spot. Nothing is guaranteed at this time.
Things can change quickly in the NFL too. While Flacco is the starter now, he isn't guaranteed to make it through the entire year. It is important that Lock adjusts to the NFL completely. He might be the starter at some point, so he needs to be ready.