Denver Broncos QB competition should be about present and future
As Denver Broncos fans and pundits we all read daily takes on OTAs and take any chance we get to jump to a conclusion. I’m as guilty as any if it fits my narrative. That having been said, Denver needs to handle this particular QB competition differently.
The last one between Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch left nothing but a foul taste and uncompetitive squad on the field. A first-round flameout and a subpar starting quarterback. Disclaimer: Both Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater are upgrades from that competition.
The Denver Broncos need to take more into the equation than any perceived marginal advantage if that is all we see as it was between Lynch and Siemian. From my chair, it appeared to come down to a couple of preseason series between two men putting up ho-hum performances. That cannot be the case this year. The likelihood that veteran Teddy Bridgewater can put up cleaner tape in a conservative preseason playbook is admittedly high. Denver cannot settle for that.
If Drew Lock shows signs of progression and looks anything other than bad, then I feel the Broncos have to make it “his job to lose”. Frankly, I would make it that way sooner than later in an attempt to bring the locker room together and prevent a Teddy/Drew rift amongst teammates.
Hearing how much Jerry Jeudy or Noah Fant appreciate Bridgewater in the midst of a QB competition is not healthy even if well-intended. I have nothing but respect for Teddy Bridgewater the way he’s battled through a career-threatening injury, but at least this Broncos fan doesn’t want to see who “this year’s guy” turns out to be.
I want to find the guy and I don’t feel Drew Lock has yet been awarded the opportunity to be that yet.
I know, I know — advanced statistics hate Drew Lock, but does Bridgewater win any more games last year for the Denver Broncos? I’m not convinced, but I can break that down in another post.
The fact is if Denver believes Lock is showing progression then he could be “the guy”. While Bridgewater is a guy on a one-year contract likely to be another body through the revolving door in the Denver quarterback room.
If Lock shows signs of improvement the Broncos must look to fix the quarterback conundrum they have been trapped in since Peyton Manning by establishing a QB1 for more than a year. You can’t hand that job to Bridgewater because it makes you feel more comfortable this season.