Training camp battles for every Denver Broncos position
By Tylor Walden
Quarterback
Battle: Backup QB/QB3
The Denver Broncos will not be having a starting QB competition for the second straight year after having pretty open competitions in 2016/17. Case Keenum was given the job in 2018 and Joe Flacco will get the job in 2019.
Therefore, this position group has open competitions for the QB2 and QB3 spots, should the Broncos decide to keep three (I’m pretty sure they will).
The competitors for the two spots are former 2016 Kansas City Chiefs draft pick Kevin Hogan, who spent last season with the team as a backup, second-round pick Drew Lock out of Missouri, and undrafted free agent Brett Rypien out of Boise State.
The Broncos drafted Lock to for sure take one of the two spots, and as a second-round pick, there’s no way he’s not getting a roster spot. The big question is whether or not Lock will be able to prove himself capable of holding down the QB2 spot.
If Lock can prove he’s worthy of being the primary backup, I think we will see Kevin Hogan traded or released (depending on how well he plays) and the Broncos would keep Rypien as a QB3 if he performs well.
There’s no guarantee of three QBs making the roster, but I think it’s highly likely considering Joe Flacco’s injury history and the Broncos’ need to develop. The ideal situation for all parties would be Flacco proving himself worthy, Lock showing signs of development through the preseason, Hogan playing well enough to net the Broncos a decent return in a trade, and Rypien playing well enough to require a roster spot as QB3.