With former quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler departing from the Denver Broncos, General Manager John Elway has been busy searching for the team’s next quarterback. But with the height of free agency passing and the NFL draft only days away, pressure surrounding the situation is coming to a boil.
Denver does have two quarterbacks on their roster, veteran Mark Sanchez and youngster Trevor Siemian. Despite owning a 4-2 playoff record, Sanchez has never lived up to his lofty draft status in previous stints with the New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles. If the season began today, Sanchez would be the starter, but his recent below average play shouldn’t inspire many Broncos fans. Siemian was a low-round draft pick who is not guaranteed to make the team in 2016.
The easiest way to acquire an established quarterback for Denver will be through free agency, where the team doesn’t have to give up any assets. However, that market has dried up, with options dwindling down to Ryan Fitzpatrick, Brian Hoyer and Tarvaris Jackson. All of those players offer similar playing levels to Sanchez.
Another option for Elway is to make a trade, but again the options are very limited. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has been linked to Denver throughout free agency, but the situation is a messy one. While he was once viewed as an up-and-coming starter, Kaepernick is now damaged goods (though salvageable) with a large contract.
While Denver and San Francisco would likely agree on similar draft pick compensation in the trade, Kaepernick’s cap hit is the problem. Set to make $11.9 million, the QB has refused to take a pay-cut. The Broncos are willing to pay him $7 million, but the 49ers refuse to pay the additional $4.9 million for a player who may fit San Francisco’s new offensive scheme.
While the Broncos are the logical place for Kaepernick to land, the situation is very murky.
Denver’s last personnel avenue is the NFL draft, but the team doesn’t pick until 31 overall. The top two quarterbacks in the draft, Jared Goff and Carson Wentz, will likely go first and second overall after the Rams and Eagles traded up to those selections.
There are other prospects in the draft, but it’s unpredictable how far they will fall. The next best quarterback, Paxton Lynch, will most likely be gone by Denver’s first round selection.
Connor Cook, Dak Prescott, Cardale Jones and Christian Hackenberg should all be selected by the third round. Each quarterback has their flaws, while some are more pro-ready than others. It is widely believed that the Broncos will pick a quarterback at some point, but don’t expect that player to contribute at a high level in his rookie season.
As illustrated by recent mega-deals involving the first and second overall picks in the draft, the supply of NFL-level quarterbacks is scarce. The Broncos will still boast a top five defense, but their problem at quarterback is real.
Whether through free agency, trade or the draft, another quarterback will be finding his way to the Mile High City. John Elway has delivered for Denver before, but with his options waning, he’ll have to conjure up something spectacular if the Broncos are to have a competent offense in 2016 and beyond.
