The media buzz and the divided fanbase have predominantly been focused on any would-be superstar or upgrade to the quarterback position.
To replace or not replace Drew Lock seems to be the only storyline nowadays. We all know I think Lock deserves another year to prove himself outside the chaos that was 2020, but forget about all that. Come out of the media frenzy that is QB movement in the modern offseason and look at the Broncos roster as a whole.
The offensive weapons the whole fanbase were so hopeful would keep up with the Chiefs just a year ago are coming back (hopefully healthy and 100 percent) and likely improved with players like second-round pick Javonte Williams added to the mix.
Jerry Jeudy and Lloyd Cushenberry now have an NFL season under their belts and Pat Shurmur moves into year two and the line as I had hoped and envisioned has become one of the better in the division if not the best even without an immediate answer at right tackle with Ja’Wuan James now out.
The defense has spawned top five chatter as it’s much improved on paper and was a strong unit already. The return of Von Miller and the additions of Ronald Darby, Will Fuller, and Patrick Surtain amongst many have nearly everybody excited about that squad.
Most of the fanbase recognizes the strength of the defense and a vast number of weapons on offense. Yet the fanbase seems divided between Lock and anyone else that may be available regardless of cost.
Let us soak in for a moment that Denver’s 2021 fate may not be decided by a blockbuster quarterback deal yet to come in this offseason, but rather their ability to come together as a winning TEAM.
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Rather Lock, Teddy Bridgewater, Aaron Rodgers or John Elway himself is under center the Broncos have to get back to their winning ways and something less than a middling offense is how to do so.
The question is whether the sacrifice is worth the single player when people shout from the rooftops to grab any big-name QB that hits the rumor mill.
Rodgers probably puts Denver on the shortlist of Super Bowl contenders next year if he comes in. Bridgewater may have a career year if he inherits the Broncos weapons, and finally, Lock may very well flourish in his second year in the offense with the plethora of weapons that inspired such hope going into last season back at full strength.
So who knows which quarterback will start under center Week 1, but I wish we could focus less on Twitter trends and more on the team George Paton and Co. have reinforced to contend this year.
It’s not as exciting or any sure thing yet the most team-friendly outcome by any measure is that Lock succeeds and becomes the long-term answer. Denver retains its draft capital as well as salary cap space and we can all sleep easier with the Broncos back in the contender category.