Broncos 2022 Free Agency Preview: A bad year for quarterbacks

When the NFL free agency kicks off on March 16, the Broncos figure to be one of the most-active teams in the league. On the heels of a fifth-straight losing season, they have plenty of holes to fill. And with a new head coach coming in, they’ll need to tweak the roster to fit what Nathaniel Hackett wants to do.

Currently, the Broncos are roughly $40 million under the 2022 salary cap, but that number could grow a ton, depending on what George Paton decides to do with high-priced veterans. Mike Purcell, Daesean Hamilton and Sam Martin are just some of the names who could be let go to free up space to sign new faces, with more than $50 million potentially available.

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 continues today with a position where the Broncos continue to seek an answer – quarterback. Last year, they went with Teddy Bridgewater for the first 14 games of the season and Drew Lock in the final three. It was more of the same, a continuation of bad QB play that has plagued this franchise since Peyton Manning retired. A solution needs to be found. It unlikely, however, that it comes via free agency

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Top Five Available

1. Jameis Winston – Everyone was excited to see what the former No. 1 overall pick could do in a new setting. After a season playing behind Drew Brees in New Orleans, it was Winston’s job this year with the Saints. The early returns were good, as the quarterback went 5-2 to start the season, throwing 14 touchdowns and just three interceptions. An ACL injury ended his season prematurely, however. There’s no denying Winston has talent; he’s had a 5,000-yard passing season in the NFL. But can he limit the mistakes that once caused his to throw 30 picks?

2. Mitchell Trubisky – Most people view Trubisky as a bust. They think things never worked out in Chicago. That’s not true. It’s just that the QB wasn’t as good as a player who went later in the 2017 NFL Draft, Patrick Mahomes. During his time with the Bears, Trubisky was 29-21, threw 64 touchdowns to 38 interceptions, earned a Pro Bowl berth and led the team to the playoffs on two occasions. That’s not a bad four-year run. In the right scenario, Trubisky can find a second life in the NFL.

3. Marcus Mariota – Mariota has something in common with Winston, as they were both taken atop the 2015 NFL Draft. And he has something in common with Trubisky, having gone No. 2 overall. All three are looking for a change of scenery. Much like those two, Mariota has had his moments. He led the Titans to the playoffs three times, winning a game at Arrowhead in 2017 and advancing all the way to the AFC Championship Game in 2019. That’s a decent track record.

4. Teddy Bridgewater – Bridgewater had a nice season for the Broncos in 2021. He threw a career-high 18 touchdowns, while only tossing seven interceptions. He played safe, conservative football, leading Denver to a 7-7 record and into playoff contention before getting hurt. The problem is the lack of upside. He’s had just one good season, an 11-5 campaign in 2015 that led to a Pro Bowl invite. A horrific knee injury derailed his promising career, however, as he’s been a journeyman quarterback ever since.

5. Colt McCoy – Most people probably didn’t realize that McCoy was still in the NFL in 2021. After 10 NFL seasons that led him to Cleveland, San Francisco, Washington and New York, the QB was on to his fifth team last season, landing in Arizona. He was called upon to start three games when Kyler Murray injured his ankle, going 2-1 to help keep the Cardinals season on track. He wasn’t spectacular, but he was steady. In other words, he was exactly what a backup quarterback should be.

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Realistic Options for the Broncos

1. Tyrod Taylor – During his 11 years in the NFL, Taylor has only had the opportunity to start 52 games. In part, that’s been because of injuries. But he’s also been the victim of circumstances. He keeps getting replaced by “quarterbacks of the future.” But if the Broncos are looking for someone to mentor a young QB, Taylor has the resume, having played with Baker Mayfield, Justin Herbert and Davis Mills.

2. Jacoby Brissett – If the Broncos don’t get Aaron Rodgers, they’ll surely go the route of a young quarterback. That means they’ll need a veteran to provide some stability in the QB room. Much like Taylor, Brissett is a viable option. After playing behind Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo in New England, he got a few starts in Indianapolis before moving on to help groom Tua Tagovailoa in Miami. He’s not a great QB, but he’s a steady backup who has shown he can work with other quarterbacks.

3. Trevor Siemian – Ideally, the Broncos would like to bring in a veteran who has run the West Coast offense. Having someone around who knows what Nathaniel Hackett wants to do would be beneficial. Unfortunately, Siemian is the best free agent with that type of experience on his resume. Back in 2015, he was a third-string QB in Gary Kubiak’s system. The next year, he was the starter on the defending Super Bowl champs. Those two years give him a leg up on other options.

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