Good morning, Broncos Country!
Another season in the books.
Another one with more losses than wins.
Another one with big unanswered questions in the offseason.
Another one looking for a quarterback.
Again.
As the inevitable divorce with Russell Wilson looms, and Jarrett Stidham seems destined for a backup role (or at least should be), Sean Payton will be scouring locker rooms across the league (XFL included) and into the college ranks to find his guy.
What to do about Russell Wilson
Thanks to George Paton handing Wilson the contract of the century two years ago, the Broncos will be on the hook for a lot of money where the veteran QB is concerned. The good news is, the owners have deep pockets.
Also, Wilson had a decent season until the Week 17 benching, so there are probably some teams very interested in bringing him aboard. Wilson threw for 3,070 yards and 26 touchdowns with just eight interceptions. Wilson also logged 341 yards on the ground and added three rushing TDs. Wilson’s completion percentage went from 60.5 percent under Nathaniel Hackett to 66.4 percent this year under Payton.
But not just every team can afford Wilson, so there may have to be some creative math on the deal to make a trade possible.
Either way, Wilson will likely not be a Bronco when the league year starts in March.
Drafting a rookie QB?
A lot of NFL scouts were paying close attention to the College Football National Championship game Monday night as two potential rookie QBs next season were facing off – Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy and Washington’s Michael Penix, Jr.
Of course, USC’s Caleb Williams, North Carolina’s Drake Maye and LSU’s Jayden Daniels will be in the conversation for top QBs in this year’s draft as well and perhaps one may fall all the way to 12 for Denver.
Hopefully that is the case because without a lot of draft capital – six picks and only two in the first two days and no pick in the second round – the Broncos will have to trade some elite players if they want to move up to take a specific quarterback.
A bridge QB?
Perhaps my least favorite option of any when it comes to figuring out the QB position is the “bridge” option. Nothing says “we don’t know what we’re doing so we’re biding time” like a bridge QB.
The Broncos have been doing that for years – Case Keenum, Joe Flacco, Trevor Siemian, Teddy Bridgewater…the list is long and forgettable.
As is this year’s list of free agent quarterbacks. Among those available, Jameis Winston might be the most probable given his tie to Payton at the Saints.
