John Elway is making fans of the Denver Broncos believe again in a team that is headed in the right direction.
It takes a belief or faith that there is a rising optimism in the Mile High City. Denver Broncos executive John Elway has taken a fair share of criticism and some warranted more than others.
However, as we all know, failure can make us stronger individuals. It provides the opportunity to fix what happened and rewrite a new story. Elway and the Broncos have been rebuilding while appearing in a win-from-now-on window. Right now, Elway has the team heading in the right direction.
The belief that this team is heading the right direction starts first with the quarterback, Drew Lock.
The future is locked and ready to roll for 2020 at a position that has been hard to solidify after Peyton Manning. Brock Osweiler was slated to be the heir to the Hall of Famer, but due to his own interests, Osweiler went elsewhere. This left a Denver with stopgaps at quarterback and it never materialized the way the team wanted.
After a 4-1 record in December 2019 and winning over a locker room during his audition, Lock has become a godsend to Elway and the Denver Broncos. He has given the team a belief again in themselves that they have a chance to win every single game.
While all of us are dealing with the international crisis of the Coronavirus, it did not stop John Elway from upgrading the franchise through trades and the free agent market.
Before the tampering period and start of the league year, the Broncos made a trade acquiring A.J. Bouye from Jacksonville. This was not the only trade made by the Hall of Fame quarterback.
Elway and the Broncos acquired five-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jurrell Casey from Tennessee. In both trades, the Broncos did not trade significant draft capital. In fact, with Tennessee, the trade was for a seventh-round pick. We call that highway robbery.
Elway built an offense as well in free agency. In a surprising turn, the Broncos turned their initial attention to offensive lineman Graham Glasgow. Glasgow was regarded as one of the best offensive linemen in free agency.
The former Detroit Lions guard and center comes to Denver expecting to be the team’s right guard. Glasgow is a durable player built to last on the offensive line. He is one of those people you will not see on the inactive list on game days. Injuries have been an unfortunate occurrence in Denver and the Broncos seem to be preaching that health is paramount this offseason.
Glasgow signing surprised everyone including myself due to attention needed on the defensive side of the ball. However, due to the Broncos declining Ronald Leary’s option, the team needed someone to fill the right guard void. Glasgow fits that bill.
One of the big splashes made on offense came at the running back position. The Denver Broncos snagged Melvin Gordon to stay in the division after spending five seasons with the Chargers.
Gordon has been a productive back since being drafted in the NFL, scoring 47 touchdowns. With new offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur in the fold, Denver needed a back that can shoulder the load and be a dynamic receiver to help the young quarterback.
A quarterback’s best friend is a solid offensive line and running game. This move signifies the team believes in Drew Lock. On a rookie deal with the young quarterback, Denver can afford to make moves like this. Now with Gordon in the fold, Denver has arguably the top duo in the NFL with him and Phillip Lindsay.
All these big first wave signings signify they believe in their young quarterback. Also, he is giving fans hope to believe again. For the first time under Elway, it seems the Broncos have locked in on their potential franchise quarterback. While people will not admit that Denver Broncos are rebuilding, they have been steadily doing so since Peyton Manning retired.
Now with a budding young quarterback in the mix, Elway became aggressive for the first time since the Aqib Talib, TJ Ward, DeMarcus Ware, and Emmanuel Sanders off-season. It is a sign of faith and that Elway believes in this team. More importantly, it is giving fans an opportunity to appreciate this young roster growing before our very eyes.
It is a belief. This belief started with Lock during the month of April in 2019 and it has bled through the entire team. Due to his swagger and confidence from upstairs the team is poised to take a leap in 2020.