Evans: Second guessing the Denver Broncos quarterback situation

I don’t like the Denver Broncos current quarterback situation.

Now, before we go any further, do not take this as a complaint the Broncos failed to take a quarterback with the fifth-overall pick. Since Denver earned that pick, I was against the idea of drafting one of these overrated college wunderkinds.

The herd mentality that exists in the NFL on if you don’t have an established franchise quarterback you must draft one of these guys — any of these guys — is both unwise and desperate.

Now that that is established, let me air my grievances.

I’m not against the Case Keenum signing. He does represent an upgrade over the dreck the Broncos have had at the position the past few years. (And yes, that includes the final days of Peyton Manning.)

The Keenum contract is such that if it doesn’t work out, no big deal. If it does, it’s a bargain. I’m OK with gambling on Keenum having a career renaissance, much like Rich Gannon.

I’m here to be critical of the backup plan.

Really, we’re going to leave this to Paxton Lynch and Chad Kelly? What more is there to say about Lynch?

Here are two stories picked up from reliable sources:

One, while Lynch was being interviewed by a team during his pre-draft visits, they met for dinner. A TV in the restaurant was showing the rookie quarterback on “John Gruden’s QB Camp.”

Lynch proceeded to turn his back on the team executives at the table to sit and watch himself on TV. That team immediately took him off their draft board.

The second story involved Lynch’s start in Oakland this past season. Remember that one, right? That ended with him crying on the bench after spraining his ankle.

You would think that after building a reputation as a “last in, first out” type of guy that maybe, just maybe, Lynch would take that moment, that week, to change his ways and make the most of this opportunity.

Nope.

On the day he found out he would be starting against the Raiders, he was again the first guy out of the building.

This guy just doesn’t get it. And yet, John Elway is giving him another chance.

Wow. Just admit the mistake and move on. No one thinks he can play.

The aforementioned Gannon joined Schlereth and me Wednesday and said he just doesn’t see a guy who will ever make it in this league.

My feeling is that’s a universal opinion held around the football world.

With that being said, if you want to give him one more chance just to see if the light bulb has come on, do it during this spring.

The OTA and minicamp “season” is a month and a half long. It’s more than enough time to see if Lynch has started to figure things out. The Broncos don’t need to wait until training camp in August.

As for Kelly, who knows? Maybe he’s legit. Hall of Fame general manager Bill Polian thinks so.

I have no problem seeing if “The Bloodline” has potential. Give him a look during the spring and summer.

But why stop there?

My pre-draft strategy had the Broncos taking a quarterback somewhere between Rounds 2 and 4. Plenty of quarterbacks taken in that range have had tremendous careers, won Super Bowls, and score big contracts.

Until the Broncos have clearly figured out its long-term quarterback future, they have to be a franchise in the quarterback developing business.

There would’ve been no downside to drafting another quarterback. The spring OTA season gives you time to evaluate, and quite likely eliminate from consideration, Lynch. By the time summer comes around, Keenum is getting comfortable and Kelly is getting a strong audition.

Meanwhile, the rookie quarterback would be learning on the job.

Let’s say a miracle occurs and Lynch figures it all out. Great. Now your former first-rounder is ready to live up to his potential, and you’ve found your guy — the elusive franchise quarterback.

But barring such a football unicorn, you need to cover yourself. The Broncos had that chance, and they passed.

Maybe it works out. Maybe Keenum is the next Gannon. Maybe Kelly is the next Garoppolo. Maybe Kyle Lauletta and Mason Rudolph get proper football training in New York and Pittsburgh, respectively, and turn out to be heirs apparent. (That would hurt me deeply, although it would provide plenty of “I told you so” moments.)

But is a “maybe” strategy the best way for the Broncos to go based on their recent track record?

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