The Denver Broncos are going to do what they can to acquire Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers, that much seems clear.
The Broncos are lining up their options at quarterback this offseason and there are a plethora of them. There are also several quarterback-needy teams weighing those same options.
The connection between Aaron Rodgers and the Broncos goes back nearly one full year. Rumors of a deal between the two sides have swirled around Denver ever since, but will a deal ever come to fruition?
Aaron Rodgers is “Plan A” for Broncos
Speaking earlier, Broncos insider Mike Klis of 9News talked about how the Broncos plan to pursue Rodgers, should he become available. A decision on his future, and where it lies, is looming.
If Rodgers becomes available to the teams around the league, the Broncos will be in play for him and they have the means to make it happen.
But if the Broncos are unable to make that trade a reality, or if Rodgers decides to either stay in Green Bay or call it a career, then the Broncos need to stick with what they already have. Yes, that means Drew Lock.
With a brand new coaching staff and offensive philosophy taking over, it could be well worth it to see what Lock can do. In fact, for this reason alone, it might not even be worth trading for Rodgers.
Another name that has been tossed around in trade talks is that of Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. But unless the Broncos can land one of these all-time great passers, give me Lock over each of the following names that could be available to them:
Jimmy Garoppolo
Carson Wentz
Jameis Winston
Mitch Trubisky
Marcus Mariota
Or basically any other free-agent QB option, including the guy who started for the team last year, Teddy Bridgewater.
The Broncos could bring in a guy like Trubisky or Mariota to serve as a backup, but the draft may be a better route to go for that.
It wouldn’t be the worst move to take a guy like Carson Strong or Desmond Ridder in the second round, to see if they can develop into future starters.
If that doesn’t happen or if Lock falls flat on his face, the Broncos could be drafting high in the 2023 draft and that quarterback class is considerably more attractive than the one that will roll out in this year’s crop of quarterback prospects.
Some fans feel that they have seen what Lock can do, or more importantly, can’t do. But there is also a strong argument that he was put in a bad situation with the prior coaching regime. To give up on him now, especially for a guy like Wentz or Gaoppolo, lacks so much logic in my opinion.
One thing is for sure and that is that the Broncos will be tied to every available or potentially available quarterback until any kind of move is actually made. But the best move might just be to make no move.