The QB decision will show if the Broncos are a good or bad organization

Teddy or Drew? Drew or Teddy?

The question has been kicked around the Mile High City since the Broncos traded for Teddy Bridgewater in late April. It’s been the topic of discussion throughout OTAs, minicamp and training camp.

So far, the team has been quiet about who is going to be named the starter. They’ve been guarded with what they say about both quarterbacks.

For his part, Vic Fangio has been adamant about the race being equal. He loves to deem the competition “even Steven” at nearly every turn.

But at some point, the head coach has to make a decision. Eventually, he’ll need to name a starter for the season opener against the Giants on Sept. 12.

Which quarterback they choose will say a lot about the state of the franchise.

A well-run organization would go with Drew Lock. A poorly run one would side with Bridgewater.

By all accounts, the battle has been close. At training camp, neither QB separated himself. Picking a winner each day was essentially a coin flip.

In the preseason, both quarterbacks have played well. Lock shined when he got the start in Minnesota. Bridgewater excelled with the starers in Seattle.

As a result, the decision hasn’t become painfully obvious. Lock hasn’t made costly mistakes, which would’ve eliminated him from the battle. Bridgewater hasn’t been “Teddy Two Yards,” which would’ve screamed that he’s nothing more than a backup.

Thus, the decision isn’t based on the way the two quarterbacks have played. On that front, it’s been a virtual tie.

So, it’ll come down to a philosophical question. It’ll be about what the Broncos want from their quarterback.

If they’re looking for a young QB with the potential to become the face of the franchise at that position, they’ll go with Lock. Of course, that’ll mean they’ll have to deal with the inevitable growing pains, which come in the form of interceptions, fumbles and sacks.

If they’re looking for a veteran QB who perhaps gives them a better chance to win right now, they’ll go with Bridgewater. Of course, that’ll mean that they still haven’t found a long-term answer and they’re ceiling is nothing more than a borderline playoff team.

Good organizations are trying to get on a championship track. Even if they’re far away, their goal is to get on a path that has a potential Super Bowl trajectory.

While there are a lot of factors that go into being on that route, quarterback is the No. 1 factor. Teams that have one are a perennial contenders. Teams that don’t are typically on the outside looking in.

Is Lock an eventual Super Bowl-caliber QB? That remains to be seen, but at least he has the potential.

Given that Bridgewater hasn’t proven to be a better player, the smart decision would be to go with the guy who has long-term potential. They’re basically a wash in the short term, so the future becomes the tiebreaker.

Bad organizations are desperate to show immediate progress. They’re willing to trade a vision for the illusion of improvement.

The Broncos are in the midst of a four-year stretch with sub-.500 seasons. It’s the worst drought since the AFL-NFL merger, more than 50 years ago.

That makes it very tempting to play the quarterback who can get them to nine wins. A 9-8 record would be seen as a huge improvement. It would probably save Fangio’s job.

But it would provide false hope. It would be a step up, but not in the right direction.

Why? Because there’s no realistic next step. It’s hard to imagine Bridgewater returning in 2022 and getting the team to 11 wins. He certainly wouldn’t be back in ’23 to make them a contender.

Conversely, a 9-8 record with Lock would be a good step. Heck, 7-10 or 8-9 would even be a positive sign.

Those are seasons that could be built upon. It’s conceivable to project that Lock could then develop into a playoff-caliber quarterback.

A good organization would choose a QB based on which one has the potential to become a franchise QB. They aren’t interested in stopgaps.

The Chiefs moved on from Alex Smith in favor of Patrick Mahomes. The Seahawks went with rookie Russell Wilson instead of high-priced veteran Matt Flynn. The Bills turned to Josh Allen instead of sticking with journeyman Tyrod Taylor.

A bad organization goes the route that gets them to mediocrity. They find accomplishment in flirting with .500 and playing “meaningful” games in November and December.

They make decisions based on who can save the head coach’s job. They worry about one year instead of a decade.

Teddy Bridgewater supposedly gives the Broncos the “best chance to win.” The question is: Win what?

If the answer isn’t a Super Bowl, now or down the road, that it’s a foolish path. It’s the HOV lane to NFL purgatory, which is always around eight or nine wins, drafting in the late teens.

Are the Broncos a good organization or a bad one? The QB decision will help answer that question.

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