The Broncos have many options, they can go with the old veteran that has bounced around or started and then went to back-up status, career back-up, the young guy that has had a falling out with his past or current team, trade for a vet a team is ready to move on from or even a younger player that a team doesn't see as a good long-term fit or develop a guy and pray he is good enough from the start. Here is a look at all of those options:
Bounce-Around Veteran
Brian Hoyer (Texans): Hoyer played last year for the Texans and once they realized that Ryan Mallett was just a tall dumb ass that couldn't set his alarm, they made the playoffs with Hoyer. The playoff game versus Kansas City was a shit show, but Hoyer wasn't the only factor. Hoyer had a Top 20 Passer Rating (better than either Broncos starting QB of 2015) and 19 TDs versus 7 INTs. He is smart, won't make a ton of mistakes and may be the system bland QB the Broncos need until they get their guy in the draft or free agency. He does well rolling out and operating under center. He is a solid fit for this Broncos team. He would have to be released or the Texans would have to trade him, but it shouldn't cost much since he isn't thought elite. His price tag is VERY friendly to a team that showed they don't need elite QB play to win it all. Tickles my curiosity more than the guy below.
Fitzpatrick may be intelligent, but his propensity to throw an ill-timed interception is worrisome indeed. He is similar to Hoyer in that he is simply not your long-term answer due to age and just the drives you fucking nuts with decisions factor. The other issue is he is a shotgun guy or classic drop back passer. His style does not fit Kubiak's system in my opinion.
Mark Sanchez (Eagles)-Good old butt fumble, Dirty Sanchez, formerly known as The Sanchise (Franchise and Sanchez combined) has fallen off the map. His curly locks are about the only thing going for him. He has a weird two leg hop when trying to get rid of the ball. He seems to be more of a Fitzpatrick than Hoyer and not a good fit. Eagles will want to rid themselves of a $4.5 million 3rd stringer. Maybe the Broncos catch lightening in a bottle and he is better but I would pass.
Brandon Weeden (Texans)-Elway was seriously considering this guy. He was awful with the Browns, so bad with the Cowboys that they signed another career back-up. Simply put, no thank you. He is broken.
Career Back-Up
Matt Moore, Tavaris Jackson, Bruce Gradkowski, Charlie Whitehurst, Luke McCown, Josh Johnson, Matt Flynn, etc, etc.-You can stop puking in your mouth now, but I would not be surprised to see one of these guys in the thick of it. Luke McCown makes bad commercials and is a bad quarterback if he hasn't got a chance by 34. The ONLY guy that truly intrigues me is Matt Moore, but he hasn't done anything in 4 years and that's pretty much how this whole list goes.
Young Gun Looking For Resurgence
Robert Griffin III (Redskins)-Simply an electrifying personality coming out of Baylor. He set the NFL on fire with his rookie campaign. Things looked promising, but injuries and his beyond quirky personality and isolation like ways seems to have thrown a lot of people off. He had track speed, but he changed after getting hurt. He has slowed down and wanted to change his game. Simply, he was only good as a rookie because he was so dynamic as a rusher. He has a very lean build and truly I don't see him taking a beating of a complete NFL season. He would make for a good spot starter and great back-up to an athletic QB like Cam Newton, Tyrod Taylor or Colin Kaepernick, speaking of which...
Colin Kaepernick (49ers)-Oh my, after a 2nd year near Super Bowl win and NFC Championship game loss the following season, Kaepernick has fallen off the map. Yes, the 49ers are a shit show right now with players retiring early and coaches being fired one after the other and now the circus clown Chip Kelly taking over, but the simple fact is Kaepernick has regressed. He got benched for Blaine Gabbert.
Kaepernick has a good body that can take punishment and he is extremely athletic, but let's look at the facts of his game. He is more keen to tuck and run than he is to stand in the pocket and throw a dagger. His mechanics are interesting, since many throws are with his arm rather than body due to his mechanics. His dual threat ability will make people say with the right coach and franchise he could be as good as Cam Newton. His contract is team friendly for the next two seasons and puts him in the middle of QB contracts, but it is still around $16 million to see him play. He is going to cost a team draft picks and unless it is beyond 4th round compensation the Broncos would give up, there may be better trade options.
Trading Options
There are a few names that make sense here depending on what direction a franchise may want to go in. I have heard Drew Brees and Matt Stafford but let's be honest, the Saints don't retain Sean Payton if they want to start afresh. They believe those two are peas in a pod and belong together. Brees is also on the downhill side of his career. Of course Peyton Manning was too and had a 55 TD year in him, but Brees is honestly suited for the launch it approach of Payton and not this controlled offense of the Broncos. Stafford is the same to me. He wants to throw the ball downfield. I leave both to finish in their cushy indoor stadiums.
Tyrod Taylor (Bills)-Kubiak wanted him big time last year. They were offering him more money than the Bills but Taylor saw an opportunity to start IMMEDIATELY in Buffalo and did. Other than a mid-season injury, Taylor had a VERY good year for the Bills. He is still growing but his abilities shined last year and he kept defenses on their toes. He also had a couple complete dud games where he did nothing for an entire game. His cost is so franchise friendly that unless the Bills get RGIII and promise him to start, this is very unlikely. Taylor probably stays a Bill for a long time but if Kubiak and Elway REALLY want him, don't rule out a 1st rounder this year and a player The Ryan Duo would want on their defense like Shaq Barrett or someone along those lines.
Draft Class
This draft class has 3 first round guys and a bunch of question marks after that. The simple fact is Carson Wentz and Jared Goff will be gone within the Top 5-10 guys. There are a few QB hungry teams picking up high to not have that happen, please see Cleveland, perhaps 49ers if they trade Kaepernick and Los Angles Rams. Heck, the Cowboys may realize Romo is truly an undrafted free agent and not worth being made the starter beyond this year and take a guy though that is more likely a 2nd or 3rd round type. The Jets are in this group too if they can't convince Fitzpatrick he is not worth $18 million and is lucky to be starting in this league. But Broncos have options in the draft and while they may draft these guys, unless any of them show Russell Wilson type maturity/ability they most likely will be a back-up to one of the guys mentioned above.
Paxton Lynch (Memphis)-Think Osweiler's body but with more athletic ability. Lynch was allowed to take off and ran more of a spread type offense but you can see many bootlegs as well. He may take a little time to get his footwork down since he has not played under center and hasn't played against elite competition and speed yet. If he is there at 31, the Broncos need to seriously consider him as a sit and learn for a year project.
Connor Cook and Christian Hackenberg-I lump these two together because NEITHER one of them is the type of guy I would want on my team. Both are selfish and arrogant in ways that will not fit well in a strong locker room like the Broncos but one needing an offensive leader with Manning/Osweiler gone. I pass.
Dak Prescott (Miss. State)-After being the buzz in 2014, he kind of cooled in 2015 with Miss. State not being as high on the radar. His leadership, football IQ and just all around presence makes me think of Russell Wilson, so I would take him late 2nd and not feel too bad about it. He ran a Tebow like offense and thus may need time to develop, but he may develop quickly and force the Broncos to play him if he is better than the vet they bring in.
Other guys to consider are abundant but besides Lynch and Prescott, none of them seem to have the WOW factor those two have and upside to be an NFL starter. The one name that may change that is Kevin Hogan. He is smart and solid, but he is not going to wow you. He seems more like a solid back-up guy for years along the lines of the McCown brothers but will not be a great NFL starter.
Breaking it down, I am honestly not sure who the Broncos will take. Kaepernick seems to be the guy that fans would fall in love with and believe he just had a rough two years because of the turmoil in San Fran. RGIII may take a team friendly deal to be promised the starting job but can his body or mind handle this offense and the NFL after being completely rattle the last two years? Call me crazy, but I wait for Brian Hoyer to be released or offer a contingent 7th rounder for him and make him the starter and then draft Prescott or Lynch. I tell Hoyer he is our guy this year and if he does well, he may stay there beyond this year. He is a smart player and a guy that works his ass off. He seems to be a guy that won't divide the locker room to where the young guys in RGIII and Kaepernick had some guys that didn't like their shtick.
Whatever the decision is, the simple fact is the Broncos continue to have drama that rivals any soap opera on TV and if there was a camera and constant storyline on them they would probably garner the highest ratings for daytime, prime time or as a Sunday movie. Broncos Country trusts in John Elway and Elway is a smart, bold, calculated front office leader that will explore all avenues and possibilities to do what it takes to get Denver back to the Super Bowl. Stay tuned!
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