USAT: Broncos Wire audio clip

USAT: Broncos Wire

Jan 14, 2022

The Denver Broncos are in the middle of a search for a new head coach, so that’s the topic to follow at the moment. After a new coach is hired, on-field attention will turn to the team’s roster decisions — with the quarterback position being a hot topic (off the field, ownership will remain a big story). Teddy Bridgewater is scheduled to become a free agent in March, but Drew Lock has one year left remaining on his contract. Will either of them be with the team going into the 2022 season? “Drew is under contract,” Broncos general manager George Paton said on Jan. 9. “Once we get a new staff in, we’ll meet on our team and do a deep dive and identify guys we want to bring back, and guys that maybe we don’t. In regards to the quarterbacks, I thought they did some good things. They were a little up and down.” OK, Paton’s not going to reveal his offseason QB plan. But what did he think of the team’s QB performances in 2021? “I like the way Drew finished the season,” Paton said. “He didn’t turn the ball over in his starts, but we want to win games. Part of the quarterback’s job is to win. We were close, but we needed to finish those games.” Lock went 0-3 as a starter this season. Bridgewater went 7-7. It’s possible that neither QB is the team’s long-term answer, but a diplomatic Paton wasn’t ready to place all of the blame for the team’s struggles on his QBs. “Teddy did a nice job for the most part,” Paton said. “He was up and down as well — as was our whole offense. You can’t just pin it on the quarterbacks. We need to block better; we need to catch better. We need to make the key play in the key moments of games to win. We haven’t done that, whether it’s a drop here, a penalty there, a missed block, or a fumble. “Two fumble returns for touchdowns is unprecedented. You’re not going to win many games when you lack those details and you make those mistakes in key moments of games.” Still, even with unprecedented scenarios, it’s hard to imagine Paton coming away from the 2021 season impressed with either of the team’s QBs. It wouldn’t be surprising, in my opinion, to see the Broncos move on from both QBs this offseason, letting Bridgewater walk in free agency and trading Lock. To do that, Denver would need to bring in an established starter. For now, though, all we can do is speculate. The real fun will start when the new league year — and NFL free agency — begins in March. List 8 potential candidates to buy the Broncos if the team is sold List 7 Broncos players scheduled to become restricted free agents Email Sign up Like this article? Sign up for the Broncos Wire email newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning An error has occured Please re-enter your email address. Thanks for signing up! You'll now receive the top Broncos Wire stories each day directly in your inbox.

F i l t e r   &   S o r t