5 best passing seasons for first-year Broncos quarterbacks

Nov 25, 2018; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Case Keenum (4) calls out in the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Broncos Stadium at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 25, 2018; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Case Keenum (4) calls out in the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Broncos Stadium at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
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CARSON, CA – NOVEMBER 18: Case Keenum #4 of the Denver Broncos sets to pass in the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at StubHub Center on November 18, 2018, in Carson, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

No. 3: Case Keenum, 2018

Passing yards: 3,890

Touchdowns: 18

Following the 2017 season, the Broncos decided to move on from Siemian in favor of Case Keenum, a player who had become a free agent despite leading the Minnesota Vikings to within one game of the Super Bowl.

My argument back then was that if Minnesota didn’t want him despite that, it was very telling. That didn’t stop the Broncos from handing him a two-year, $36 million contract.

Statistically, it was a good season for Keenum but it was also the only year where he was ever considered to be the team’s starting quarterback up to that point in his career.

Keenum has always been a guy who will sling the ball around, dating back to his college days. He completed 62.3 percent of his throws that season and all signs pointed to the team leaning on him in 2019 as well, until the decision was made to trade for Joe Flacco.

That seemed to catch Keenum off guard and he was soon traded to Washington, marking another one-and-done season for a Broncos quarterback, something that has happened frequently since Manning hung up the cleats.