Denver Broncos Latest Draft and Free-Agency Rumors

With Sam Darnold now a Carolina Panther, Deshaun Watson and all of the swirling allegations around him, and Russell Wilson looking like he will be a Seattle Seahawk for his career, who are the Broncos options via trade?

1. Nick Foles

2. Teddy Bridgewater

3. Gardner Minshew

There really is only one player on this list that I would even consider, and that is Gardner Minshew. Yes, Nick Foles was productive in Shurmur’s (Chip Kelly’s) offense, and Bridgewater was brought into the league under a regime that George Paton had a predominant role in, but that was several years ago.

Teddy Bridgewater signed a lucrative $63 million contract over the span of three years in 2020 with the Carolina Panthers. It took them a whopping entire year to potentially run him out of town in favor of newly acquired quarterback Sam Darnold.

While he is still currently on the Panthers’ roster, they have granted him permission to seek his own trade after the organization failed to do so itself, prior to the Darnold trade. That is ultimately saying, we wish you the best Teddy. Would Bridegwater be someone I think the Broncos should consider if he were to be released, maybe?

I just don’t think the Broncos should give up any draft capital for Bridgewater, especially at his salary. When I think of Teddy Bridgewater, my initial reaction is “ehhhh.” We have seen enough quarterbacks here in the past five years that bring a sigh at the initial reaction.

Nick Foles has had one of the strangest careers I can remember. The former 2018 Super Bowl MVP tossed 27 touchdown passes to only two interceptions in 2013, yet Foles never has been able to really secure a long-term starting job in this league.

The NFL is a what have you done lately league, as it should be. In the past two years, he has “done nothing for me lately,” after signing a massive four-year deal worth $88 million in 2019 with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Shortly after the massive deal, sixth-round pick Garndew Minshew would actually uproot Foles and become the starting quarterback in Duval County. If the Denver Broncos could trade for one of the former Jaguars quarterbacks, why would it be the one who lost the competition? Could Foles probably come in and spot start, play some decent football in a couple of games? Possibly. If the Denver Broncos are looking to bring Foles into this position group, who would Nick Foles be competing with, Brett Rypien or Drew Lock?

Foles in my opinion, shouldn’t be considered.

The one trade target that I think GM George Paton should actually put his bid in on, would be for Gardner Minshew. He is a young, cheap option who really outright outplayed Nick Foles. While he isn’t Russ Wilson and Foles isn’t Matt Flynn, this was a similar situation.

Foles had just signed a monstrous deal, like Flynn, but Minshew a 6th round pick just came to play. He won’t be Russell Wilson, I am not saying he will be by any means, but I just value a guy who comes in and puts in work against all odds, including a newly signed, expensive quarterback. It shows who he is not only as a football player but as a person.

Minshew also would probably cost an early day three pick, which is basically throwing darts at that point anyway. If they were to trade for Minshew, that would mean that the Broncos didn’t address quarterback in round one, which there is a good chance they would have traded back at that point anyway and actually added draft capital. While he does have issues with fumbling, he has thrown 37 touchdown passes to only 11 interceptions in his career. That is a pretty good TD: INT ratio if you ask me.

Fumbles are an issue that can be improved. Better offensive line play along with wide receivers like Jerry Jeudy getting open immediately, he might not be so prone to holding onto the football which can be the cause of some fumbles. The Jacksonville Jaguars also haven’t had a stacked roster, and the weapons really have not been in his favor, yet he posts a TD: INT ratio well over 3:1.

Minshew also came into the Mile High and actually led the Jaguars to a 26-24 victory. He made some impressive plays within the pocket, making multiple Broncos whiff, including stud pass-rusher Bradley Chubb, on a dazzling touchdown pass in the back of the end zone.