Edwards: Broncos Trevor Siemian has the inside track at QB

It’s been a crazy ride for the Denver Broncos this offseason as, since March 10, they’ve been rallying to find a quarterback to succeed Peyton Manning. Plan A was for Brock Osweiler to take a market-based deal with the team that drafted him and assume the throne vacated by the future Hall of Famer. Instead, Osweiler set out to establish his own legacy in Houston and left Denver scrambling for a new direction at arguably the most important position in professional sports.

Following April’s NFL draft, the Broncos settled on three quarterbacks to compete during training camp to start the season on Sept. 8: Mark Sanchez, a veteran QB looking for redemption with his third team in just more than seven years in the league; Trevor Siemian, a second-year player with one snap of recorded experience during the 2015 season; and, finally, rookie first-round pick Paxton Lynch, the expected future of the franchise QB who will likely need some seasoning before he is ready to start. Of the three, Sanchez made the most sense to get the nod to lead the Broncos this season based on his actual experience in the NFL.

If this were a novel, the news that Trevor Siemian will start against the San Francisco 49ers would be considered a semi-dramatic plot twist before the conclusion of the story.

But really, NFL story of the week (and maybe of all camp) is Trevor Siemian having a real chance to succeed Peyton Manning in Denver. Wild.

— Peter King (@peter_king) August 18, 2016

It is, in fact, not a plot twist to most who have observed practices out at UCHealth Training Center; however, for the Broncos fans who had finally reached the acceptance stage in their grieving process of Mark Sanchez as the “bridge” QB, it was likely a minor shock to the system.

Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak has been upfront with the media and fans about his view of the three Broncos quarterbacks. On the final day of OTAs in June, he told the media that Sanchez and Siemian were dead even in their competition to start. It might have been easier for everyone if he had just named Sanchez the starter going into camp, but Kubiak, like many coaches in the NFL, wasn’t about to waste an opportunity to have competition in camp. Like most coaches, he believes competition brings out the best in players and can only make the team better as a result. He’s right, by the way.

If folks really listened to Kubiak, it woulda been obvious Trevor Siemian had a real shot at this starting QB job months ago.

— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) August 18, 2016

Despite the competition between the Broncos quarterbacks and Kubiak’s consistency regarding their status on the team, most viewed Sanchez as the guy with the inside track to the starting job. It logically made sense for Sanchez to start on Sept. 8 against the Carolina Panthers based on his experience playing in actual NFL games, something the other two QBs have only dreamed of until this point. The surprise would be for Sanchez to lose hold of his tenuous grip on the starting position and a legit shot at redemption in Denver.

Denver Broncos quarterback Mark Sanchez (6) drops back to pass against the Chicago Bears during the first quarter at Soldier Field. Photo by Mike DiNovo/USA TODAY Sports

As of Friday, roughly 24 hours before the second Broncos preseason game, it would still be a surprise if No. 6 isn’t starting against the Panthers in the NFL’s marquee season opener. That said, for the first time since training camp began, Trevor Siemian has earned the opportunity to wrap his hands around the starting quarterback job and not let go. Siemian has the inside track to start on Thursday, Sept. 8, and nobody should be truly surprised.

Mark Sanchez has been OK. He’s mostly stuck to the narrative of his career of putting together impressive drives, like the one he completed last Thursday against the Chicago Bears resulting in a 32-yard touchdown to Demaryius Thomas. Moments later, we saw the equally realistic version of Sanchez as he threw into triple coverage and was intercepted by linebacker Jerrell Freeman. These mistakes have haunted Mark throughout his seven-year career and continue through Broncos training camp. If we’re truly being realistic, Sanchez’s moments of brilliance and extreme disappointment will likely be the storyline of any game he starts under center with Denver.

Denver Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian (13) before the game against the New England Patriots at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Photo by Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY Sports

Siemian, on the other hand, is mostly unknown. Other than preseason action last year and his inconsistent collegiate play at Northwestern, most football fans don’t have much of an opinion on him. In fact, when the media talks about Trevor being the better quarterback during practice, it’s met by overall skepticism from the Broncos fan base. Well, Denver fans, it’s about time you accepted the reality that Trevor Siemian legitimately could earn the starting job for the Broncos.

Take a deep breath. It’s going to be OK.

Through more consistency and better play, Siemian has earned his opportunity to play with the first team offense Saturday night against the 49ers. It’s not a fluke. This inside track to the job won’t last very long though if he plays poorly. He will have about a quarter and a half to make his case before Mark Sanchez is handed the reigns. It’s amazing to think that this entire offseason of turmoil at quarterback could all come down to Saturday night’s exhibition game. Kubiak hopes the game against the 49ers will bring more clarity to the position and echoed those sentiments when asked if he will make a decision, following the game, on who will start.

“Would I like to? Yes. Will I? We’ll see,” Kubiak said.

Trevor Siemian has positioned himself to compete and stay on the heels of Mark Sanchez throughout the offseason and training camp. Now, he’s earned his shot to grab hold of the starting job and not let go. For those Broncos fans who are hoping for some kind of resolution to this ongoing soap opera, the conclusion is finally within sight.

Follow Ryan Edwards on Twitter: @ryanedwards1043.