Broncos 2021 Free Agency Preview: Quarterbacks
Feb 7, 2021, 10:10 PM | Updated: Feb 28, 2023, 9:19 am
When the NFL free agency kicks off on March 17, the Broncos figure to be very active. For one, they have a lot of holes to fill, so there are plenty of reasons to go shopping. In addition, Denver has a new general manager, as George Paton will want to put an immediate stamp on his new team.
Currently, the Broncos are $29 million under the 2021 salary cap, but that number could grow a ton, depending on what Paton decides to do with high-priced veterans. Von Miller, Jurrell Casey, A.J. Bouye and Bryce Callahan are just some of the names who could be let go to free up space to sign new faces.
How should the Broncos put all of those dollars to use? In the weeks leading up to the start of free agency, we’ll offer a position-by-position breakdown of the best players projected to be on the open market, as well as analysis of who would be a realistic fit in Denver.
It kicks off today with the most important position in all of sports – quarterback. Denver is seemingly in the market at that position, as Drew Lock failed to lock down his starting spot in 2020. The Broncos have reportedly been in on trade talks for Matthew Stafford and Deshaun Watson, so it stands to reason they’d be look at the free-agent market for a veteran QB, as well.
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Top Five Available
1. Dak Prescott – Surely, the Cowboys realize what they have in the 27-year-old quarterback. When he was lost during the 2020 season to a gruesome lower leg injury, Dallas fell apart. That should tell them all they need to know. That said, there’s no telling what Jerry Jones has up his sleeve. So if the Cowboys decide to chase another QB, there’s a chance Prescott doesn’t get re-signed or franchised tagged, which means he’d be on the open market. He’d be a steal for whoever signed him.
2. Jacoby Brissett – Brissett lost his starting job in Indianapolis this season to Philip Rivers, as the wily veteran came in and led the Colts to the playoffs. Now, the 28-year-old quarterback hits the open market, with a decent resume. Yes, he’s only 12-20 as a starter in New England and Indy, but his numbers have been good. During his career, Brissett has thrown 31 touchdowns, while tossing just 13 interceptions. That’s a ratio any team should be able to win with.
3. Mitchell Trubisky – If anyone needs a change of scenery, it’s Trubisky. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the quarterback will never live down the fact that he was selected ahead of Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson. Those two stars have caused Bears fans, and perhaps the franchise itself, to overlook the good work Trubisky has done. After all, he’s 29-21 as a starter, has thrown for more than 10,000 yards, and has 64 touchdowns to just 37 interceptions in his career.
4. Ryan Fitzpatrick – The ultimate journeyman. The ultimate backup. The ultimate one-year stopgap. During his 16-year career, Fitzpatrick has played for seven different franchises. And at each stop, he’s had some degree of success. After all, he’s thrown for nearly 35,000 yards and tossed 223 touchdowns during his career. But he’s always being replaced by a younger, more-athletic, big-armed QB. And his 59-86-1 career record shows that he’s just good enough to keep his team competitive.
5. Andy Dalton – Dalton may be hitting the Fitzpatrick point of his career. For nine years in Cincinnati, he was actually a very good quarterback, compiling a 70-61-2 record with a bad Bengals franchise. But this year during his stint in Dallas, where he went 4-5 in relief of Dak Prescott, it was clear that the Red Rifle’s best days are behind him. Can he still do the job? Sure. Can he win a game or two in relief? Absolutely. But can he lead a franchise? That’s no longer the case.
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Realistic Options for the Broncos
1. Tyrod Taylor – The veteran quarterback knows the deal. After mentoring Baker Mayfield in Cleveland and Justin Herbert in Los Angeles, Taylor understands that his role is to help a young quarterback learn the game and be ready to step in if needed. Given his career record of 24-21-1, it’s clear that he can win in the NFL. He’s also thrown for 54 touchdowns and just 20 interceptions, so he’s more than capable. He’d be the perfect match with Drew Lock.
2. A.J. McCarron – According to reports, John Elway has always liked McCarron. Since he came out of Alabama, the former Broncos quarterback has been intrigued by the Crimson Tide signal caller. Since then, however, there isn’t much to go on. In seven years, McCarron has started just four games. He’s served as a backup to Andy Dalton in Cincinnati, Derek Carr in Oakland and Deshaun Watson in Houston. There’s no shame in that, by any means. But there is some talent there, which could be mined.
3. Cam Newton – Broncos fans will cringe, as their dislike of Newton goes back to Super Bowl 50, where Denver knocked off the league MVP that year to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. There certainly are reasons to believe Newton’s best days are behind him. In 2020, he threw just eight touchdowns in 15 starts for the Patriots. He did run for 12 more, however, showing that he brings a dynamic element to the offense. If used properly, he can still be an effective weapon in an offense.
