Denver Broncos: Trading for veteran quarterback an option?

The Denver Broncos are 4-2, facing the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football. If their offensive woes continue, would they consider trading for a QB?

The Denver Broncos are 4-2 heading into Monday night’s matchup with the Houston Texans. After a rosy 4-0 start, many are starting to panic after two losses in five days to the Atlanta Falcons (at home) and the San Diego Chargers (on the road).

The Broncos, like any team with a young quarterback, is experiencing the hard period of growth right now, especially considering the fact that Trevor Siemian clearly played hurt in the team’s most recent game.

Would the Broncos honestly consider making a move for a veteran quarterback at this year’s trade deadline?

I really don’t think so, but Jon Gruden of ESPN is speaking from the perspective of an NFL head coach, and he doesn’t think it should be ruled out:

I have some thoughts on this possibility, but there are a number of questions that have to be asked first.

First of all — why would the Cowboys trade Tony Romo, and why would the Bears trade Jay Cutler?

The Dallas Cowboys have seen the emergence of rookie quarterback Dak Prescott this year, and they are looking like a really tough contender in the NFC with him under center. On paper or in a Madden video game, it might make sense for them to unload Romo for the highest possible draft pick they can get.

The problem with this is simply money. Romo’s cap hit is over $20 million the next few years, and he carries over $8 million in dead money if his new team were to try and let him go before next season. That’s a big bullet to bite.

In fact, trading for Romo is basically out of the question.

Trading for Jay Cutler — at least in terms of the fit and financial flexibility — is much more sensible.

Let’s talk first about the fit.

Cutler was drafted by the Broncos in 2006 when they were still under the umbrella of Mike Shanahan and the concepts that Gary Kubiak still likes to utilize today. Cutler has had major problems staying healthy throughout his NFL career and in his time with the Bears in particular.

The scheme fit probably wouldn’t be a major issue for Cutler transitioning mid-season, and the Bears would probably even have some incentive to deal Cutler were it not for the fact that John Fox is the Bears’ head coach.

We all know Fox is going to do everything in his power to scratch and claw to an 8-8 record. The season appears a lost cause for the Bears, playing in the tough NFC North, but Cutler offers them the best (only) chance at winning games when he’s healthy. That’s not entirely John Fox’s decision, as his boss is Ryan Pace, the Bears’ general manager.

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If Fox has any say in the matter, I highly doubt he would try and pull off a move that would ‘help’ the Broncos at this point in the season, but you never know…

The financial implications of a Cutler trade are far more reasonable than one for Romo. Cutler has a cap figure this year of $16 million, so the Broncos would basically be paying on a per game basis. His dead cap figure is essentially nothing after this season, so the Broncos could easily cut bait with the guy that was once considered the quarterback of the future in Denver.

It sounds like a really silly idea by Jon Gruden, and perhaps it is, but there’s at least some merit to his thought. If the Broncos aren’t going to play Paxton Lynch this year, what gives? At what point do decide whether or not Trevor Siemian gives you a chance at winning a championship his first year starting in the NFL?

We know Siemian is capable of winning games in this league, but can he go into New England in January and get it done?

For that matter, can Paxton Lynch go into New England in January and get it done?

Heck, I don’t even know if it’s fair to say Tony Romo or Jay Cutler could go into New England in January and get the job done.

Hopefully, Trevor Siemian can come out on Monday Night Football and show the Broncos faithful that it’s okay to believe in the process. I have confidence in Siemian, but it’s been wavering after what we saw two Thursdays ago against San Diego.

In the last 10 days, Siemian’s had the appropriate time to get his body right, and hopefully he’ll shut up all this talk about trading for a quarterback and prove that the Broncos have one capable of coming out and answering the bell in a big way.