5 quarterbacks the Denver Broncos could realistically consider in 2021.
The Denver Broncos might look different in 2021, but the majority of the changes to the roster could simply be by addition, not subtraction or substitution.
The Broncos have a number of key players coming off of injury who are still under contract for 2021 and beyond. There’s still one game left to evaluate, but the Broncos have probably seen enough from Drew Lock at this point to know what they are going to do at the quarterback position going forward.
Even though the 2021 NFL Draft remains an option and will until the Broncos officially declare otherwise, the most likely route John Elway and Vic Fangio will take in the 2021 offseason is simply bringing in a better “hedge” for Lock.
In case Lock doesn’t develop into a more consistent player who can prove he can take care of the football and limit turnovers, the Broncos should be looking to bring in an upgrade for the QB2 spot over Brett Rypien and Jeff Driskel.
The question is, who?
Let’s take a look at some realistic options (three laid out by Benjamin Allbright) for the team to bring in in 2021.
5. Nick Foles (Bears)
I’m putting Foles at number five on the list because he’s almost inarguably the least exciting, but an option nonetheless.
Foles will be 32 next year and has clearly proven that he is not a franchise QB type since he got hot and helped the Eagles to a Super Bowl win a few years back.
The Bears would have to eat a pretty large dead money chunk if Foles is cut, but the Bears could be cleaning house at QB altogether in the 2021 offseason and starting fresh with a new group, so who knows what might happen there?
If Allbright is mentioning his name as a realistic option, it’s got to be considered.
4. Jacoby Brissett (Colts)
Unlike Nick Foles, Jacoby Brissett is not under contract with his current team beyond the 2020 season.
Brissett is an attractive option for a variety of reasons, even if he doesn’t offer the highest upside of other guys on this list.
Although this hasn’t always been the MO for John Elway, it seems ideal in the Broncos’ case to go after a younger quarterback with plenty of starting experience, and Brissett is only going to be 28 for the majority of the 2021 season.
In his career, he’s been a full-time starter twice — 2017 and 2019. The Colts obviously “moved on” from Brissett as their starter in 2020 when they brought in Philip Rivers, and he will almost undoubtedly pursue his other available options in 2021.
Brissett has 31 career touchdowns compared to 13 career interceptions, so while the touchdown numbers don’t exactly scream upside, he is a player who can come in and limit mistakes, operate an offense, and keep the ship afloat.
The Broncos could certainly use that from their backup QB position, especially with jobs likely on the line in 2021.
3. Mitchell Trubisky (Bears)
With how well the Bears (and even Trubisky) have been playing of late, many now think that Chicago is going to try to find a way to re-sign its former top draft choice in the 2021 offseason.
The thing is, I don’t know how easy that is going to be to do.
Trubisky was a top draft choice in 2017. He was the QB1 of the same class that produced DeShaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes for those keeping track at home.
The Bears declined Trubisky’s fifth-year option, and unless they’re prepared to franchise tag him, why would he not pursue other opportunities around the league?
Franchise tagging Trubisky could be prohibitive cost-wise for the Bears at nearly $27 million and increasing annually.
Trubisky also might not be overly amenable to returning to Chicago on a three-year deal with the Bears declining his fifth-year option which would have been worth nearly $25 million.
Trubisky’s value is a little hard to predict based on current average salary values around the league. Unlike Marcus Mariota in Tennessee, Trubisky is on pace to finish the year as the Bears’ starting quarterback. Mariota got a two-year deal worth almost $9 million per season from the Raiders in 2020 free agency.
Trubisky, based on that, is probably worth at least $9 million per year on the market if not more.
What makes him an attractive option for the Broncos as long as the price is reasonable and the length of the contract is only 2-3 years? Well, Trubisky has history with Vic Fangio, even though Fangio wasn’t technically his coach in Chicago.
Trubisky would also be able to look at the Broncos’ situation and see that Drew Lock has played solid, but obviously, by signing Trubisky the Broncos would indicate they are open to the competition. Lock has also missed time in two out of two NFL seasons due to injury, and Trubisky could snipe his job if that were to happen in 2021.
This would be a sensible match for both sides if Trubisky leaves Chicago, which seems less likely now than it did a few weeks ago, but it’s still very much in play.
Trubisky would be my personal top option on this list based on age, starting experience, and overall talent, but he may not be the most realistic based on recent events.
2. Gardner Minshew (Jaguars)
The Denver Broncos have had the (unfortunate) chance to experience Minshew Mania firsthand.
Minshew’s statistical production in his first couple of NFL seasons has been rather impressive, but the Jaguars have obviously the easiest decision in recent NFL Draft history with the top pick in place and Trevor Lawrence at the head of the class (unofficially).
If the Jaguars are willing to ship Minshew out, he has the potential to be a really attractive option for the Denver Broncos.
Minshew has shown that he can definitely play in the NFL, and even if you single out his game against the Denver Broncos in 2019, he’s proven he can play well against even a Vic Fangio unit.
Minshew has the type of grit and moxie to be an ideal hedge at the position and reminds me a lot of Ryan Fitzpatrick with his personality and ability to make plays despite not being the biggest, fastest, strongest arm, or most qualified quarterback in the league.
The reason he’s at no. 2 on this list? He’s a pretty valuable asset for the Jaguars, who will also need a backup quarterback, and there could be a bidding war for his services on the trade market. It isn’t going to be that easy to get him out of Jacksonville, but if he’s available, the Broncos and Jaguars have a recent history of doing deals.
1. Andy Dalton (Cowboys)
For the price (he’s playing on a $3 million deal in 2020), it’s surprising Andy Dalton didn’t have more suitors in 2020.
Having an experienced backup quarterback is something many NFL teams discover a desperate need for on a season by season basis, and the Cowboys certainly are glad (at least to some degree) that they have him after Dak Prescott’s season-ending injury.
With Prescott’s situation up in the air, there’s a chance Dalton could return to Dallas again in 2021 but if he hits the market again, I think he could be the ideal option for the Broncos, not necessarily from an upside perspective, but from the perspective of the front office and coaching staff.
If Drew Lock struggles badly or goes down with an injury, Dalton is a proven commodity in the NFL who can help keep the ship afloat. He’s proving that in Dallas by helping them to three straight wins and a chance at the playoffs despite being just 6-9.
With Vic Fangio likely needing to make the playoffs in 2021 to keep his job and perhaps even the same for GM John Elway, the Broncos can’t really take chances with a guy like Jeff Driskel out there if Lock falters.
Denver Broncos defense only 2021 NFL mock draft
The Denver Broncos could emphasize the defensive side of the ball in the 2021 NFL Draft. Here is a defense-only three-round mock draft.
The budget for a backup QB should be a bit larger in 2021 and with Dalton on the market, his starting experience could be a valuable short-term hedge for the current people in positions of power in Denver.