Denver Broncos: Top 5 storylines to follow at 2021 training camp
1. The QB Battle
Although the quarterback position battle has been discussed to the point of absolute nausea this offseason, you’d better buckle up for daily updates, overreactions, and training camp completion percentage stats.
Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater have the daunting task of taking the Denver Broncos’ offense from what it was in 2020 (bad) to making sure the unit is good enough to get the team into the playoffs in 2021.
With seven spots available and a potential top 3 defense, these quarterbacks have to limit the damage in the turnover department and do their best to maximize the plethora of talented weapons at the skill positions.
It’s going to be fascinating to see what the Denver Broncos base this camp and preseason competition on and how long it takes them to decide a week one starter against the New York Giants.
Will they prioritize lack of turnovers during camp? Again, this team’s secondary is the best unit on the team and might be the best in the NFL. I suppose that’s as good of a litmus test of improvement as any for Lock or Bridgewater.
At this point, it’s safe to say the Denver Broncos will not be prioritizing Drew Lock taking his lumps. They let him do that last year, and they should have. He’s going to have to go out and win the job against a guy who has, over the course of his career, completed 66.5 percent of his passes.
Lock is younger, has more raw talent and upside, and is also the incumbent. Bridgewater is perhaps more efficient and the safer play.
Lock’s development will be fascinating to watch unfold over the course of camp, but fans need to remember — try to see the forest through the trees. One great day or one bad day is not going to decide this.
It’s going to come down to which QB proves against this elite defense that they can make the best reads consistently, the best decisions with the ball consistently, and maximize the talent at the skill spots consistently.