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How should the Denver Broncos approach their QB situation?

By Sayre Bedinger

SANTA CLARA, CA - FEBRUARY 07: General Manager John Elway of the Denver Broncos looks on after their win over the Carolina Panthers during Super Bowl 50 at Levi's Stadium on February 7, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - FEBRUARY 07: General Manager John Elway of the Denver Broncos looks on after their win over the Carolina Panthers during Super Bowl 50 at Levi's Stadium on February 7, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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ORCHARD PARK, NY – NOVEMBER 12: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints walks off the field after a game against the Buffalo Bills on November 12, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY – NOVEMBER 12: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints walks off the field after a game against the Buffalo Bills on November 12, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

Here’s the big issue with Drew Brees, before I get into Kirk Cousins at all.

Drew Brees is getting to the age where all quarterbacks — no matter how great — are on borrowed time. Peyton Manning at the age of 39 was on borrowed time. Tom Brady right now at 40 is on borrowed time, albeit still playing at a very high level.

I don’t care how great the player is, I would steer clear of someone this old for just a one year shot, because you completely handcuff your team’s quarterback situation going forward. The Saints have been excellent this season, and look like legitimate Super Bowl contenders.

What if they get to the playoffs — heck, what if they go all the way — and Brees calls it a career? He might not even be an option anyway. If Brees does decide he wants to keep playing, he’s simply too old for me to jump on board for that option when it comes to the long-term outlook for this team.

Kirk Cousins, approaching age 30, is the most viable free agent option for any team looking to just sign a quarterback outright this offseason.

There will be a bidding war for his services.

We’re looking at a very real probability that Cousins will be the highest paid player in NFL history as of early March, 2018. Whether it’s the Redskins, the Jaguars, or any other team on that list — including the Broncos — is John Elway prepared to make Kirk Cousins the highest paid player in NFL history and die on that hill?

It’s just as risky an option as any, but Cousins is proven in this league, and while the Broncos would have to make significant sacrifices elsewhere on the roster to get him, it’s possible they would see Cousins as a worthwhile investment, building the rest of the team through the draft and letting he and Von Miller be the two key pieces of this team moving forward.

Although it sounds fun on paper, making Cousins the highest paid player in NFL history and signing him to the Broncos look more like a pipe dream than any sort of reality at this point in time.

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