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Denver Broncos: 3 reasons Drew Lock must play in 2019

By Sayre Bedinger

DENVER, CO - AUGUST 19: Quarterback Drew Lock #3 of the Denver Broncos passes against the San Francisco 49ers in the second quarter during a preseason National Football League game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on August 19, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - AUGUST 19: Quarterback Drew Lock #3 of the Denver Broncos passes against the San Francisco 49ers in the second quarter during a preseason National Football League game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on August 19, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
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PALO ALTO, CA – SEPTEMBER 21: Justin Herbert #10 of the Oregon Ducks warms up during pregame warm ups prior to the start of an NCAA football game against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium on September 21, 2019 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
PALO ALTO, CA – SEPTEMBER 21: Justin Herbert #10 of the Oregon Ducks warms up during pregame warm ups prior to the start of an NCAA football game against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium on September 21, 2019 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

3. What if you can get one of the top QBs in 2020?

You have to be able to make an educated decision either way.

Let’s say the Broncos are in range to pick one of Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa or Oregon’s Justin Herbert, who could be two of the top three selections in next year’s draft. Wouldn’t you want to know what Lock has so you could make an educated decision of whether or not to pick one?

Or would the Broncos just love one of these two guys so much that they would simply be willing to consider Lock a sunk cost?

If I were an NFL general manager, I would much rather find out if the asset I acquired with a second-round pick were a viable option before drafting someone at the same position in the top five of the following draft class.

Moving on from Lock after one year would certainly not be unprecedented in today’s NFL. We’re actually seeing it happen somewhat frequently with guys like DeShone Kizer being replaced by Baker Mayfield, and even a top 10 pick one year (Josh Rosen) being replaced by a top overall pick (Kyler Murray) the following.

If the Broncos feel convicted that one of the top guys in next year’s draft is ‘the’ guy for the team, they should, by all means, take him, but it would be much wiser to make an educated decision there than have no idea what Lock is capable of.

The other end of this spectrum is that there’s a chance the Broncos will not be in position to draft either of Tagovailoa or Herbert. What then?

Do they turn their attention to another project type of player like Jordan Love of Utah State? Another leader type like Jake Fromm of Georgia? Another player with a small sample size of excellence in college like Jacob Eason (Washington) or Joe Burrow (LSU)?

Not knowing what Drew Lock brings to the table in regular season action is a negative in just about every way you can look at it as it pertains to the 2020 NFL Draft. Having no sample size on Lock either means you take a shot on blind faith that he’s a better alternative to the top prospects in the class, or that the less-certain prospects have a higher upside than he does.

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