Denver Broncos: Looking at veteran quarterback options for 2021
Denver Broncos: Looking at veteran quarterback options for 2021.
The Elway years appear to be about over. With new general manager George Paton recently hired, all signs point to John Elway slowly walking away from the organization. Not only that, Joe Ellis is not expected to return when his contract expires in 2022.
New leadership will soon take over in Denver, for better or for worse. And with that new leadership comes fresh faces, optimism, and many questions.
Like clockwork, the second George Paton was hired, Broncos fans, media figures, and everyone in between began talking about the quarterback position.
What does this mean for Drew Lock? Will we draft someone? Will we trade for a veteran? All signs point to everything being on the table at the moment, and Mike Klis recently speculated that the team could look to trade for an established veteran.
WATCH: @MikeKlis joined @JacobRTobey to discuss why the Broncos gave George Paton a 6-year contract to be the new GM, if he'll make a run at Watson, Stafford or Ryan and what was on the menu last night at @ElwaysStkHouse!#9sports #BroncosCountry
— 9NEWS Sports Denver (@9NEWSSports) January 14, 2021
STORY: https://t.co/lQvPIXU63s pic.twitter.com/O4r4sjH8Ti
The three names he mentioned were Matt Ryan, Matthew Stafford, and Deshaun Watson.
So, let’s take a look specifically at the three that were mentioned by Klis as options for 2021.
Matt Ryan Quarterback, Atlanta Falcons
Matt Ryan is a former NFL MVP who has appeared in a Super Bowl. He’s as consistent as they come and is the perfect definition of a “seasoned vet.” He has experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows and would provide a calming, steady force for the offense.
Ryan’s style of play is slowly becoming the NFL of the past. He is mostly a pocket passer with limited mobility, but possesses exceptional accuracy and can create plays with his legs if he needs to.
Ryan, who will be 36 when the 2021 season kicks off, wouldn’t be a long-term solution, but he would provide a few years of competent QB play, effectively opening an albeit small window for the Broncos to contend.
In 2020, Matt Ryan had himself a typical Matt Ryan season. He threw for 26 TDs, 11 INTs, completed 65.4 percent of his passes for a respectable rating of 93.3.
This is who Matt Ryan is. Outside of a couple of really good years in 2016 and 2018, he won’t wow you with stats, but provides at the very least, league-average QB play.
With many quarterbacks playing at a high level into their 30s, it’s reasonable to think Matt Ryan has several solid years left in him, and it does not seem like he has “lost” it, as we’ve seen from Peyton Manning and Ben Roethlisberger.