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Denver Broncos: Top 10 quarterbacks since John Elway’s retirement

By Graham Tiedtke

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 08: Joe Flacco #5 of the Denver Broncos looks on prior to taking on the Seattle Seahawks during their preseason game at CenturyLink Field on August 08, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 08: Joe Flacco #5 of the Denver Broncos looks on prior to taking on the Seattle Seahawks during their preseason game at CenturyLink Field on August 08, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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Jake Plummer
DENVER, CO – JANUARY 14: Jake Plummer #16 of the Denver Broncos turns to hand off against the New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional playoff game at Invesco Field at Mile High on January 14, 2006 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Patriots 27-13. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

2. Jake Plummer (2003-06)

Jake Plummer was with the Denver Broncos for four seasons and led the team to the playoffs in his first three. In 2005, the Broncos made it all the way to the AFC Championship Game but fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who would eventually win the Super Bowl, defeating the Seattle Seahawks.

In 2005, Plummer had a streak of 229 straight passes in which he did not throw an interception. That streak was during weeks seven through 14.

While Plummer never ended up winning a Super Bowl for the Broncos, he made a tremendous impact with both his arm and his legs. Plummer ran head coach Mike Shanahan’s bootleg offense very well.

His best season with the Broncos was in 2004 when he threw for 4,089 yards, 27 touchdowns and a completion percentage of 58.2 (though, his highest completion percentage was in 2003, when he completed 62.3 percent of his passes).

In 2004, Plummer targeted top wideouts Rod Smith and Ashley Lelie 237 times combined. The next closest was Jeb Putzier, targeted 54 times. He managed to get both of his top wideouts past the 1,000-yard mark.

He led his teams to 20 comebacks and engineered 30 game-winning drives during his career.

The trade of Plummer

Unfortunately, his relationship with the team spoiled after they drafted Jay Cutler in the first round of the 2006 draft. Cutler eventually replaced Plummer for good.

Plummer was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a 2008 conditional pick. He would not end up playing a down for the Buccaneers and ultimately retired.

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