The Denver Broncos have the most inept offense in the history of modern football, averaging 13.8 points per game in 2022 which is on pace to be the worst mark since the 2000 Cleveland Browns, who were just one year into being an “expansion” team at that particular point in time. Believe it or not, the Broncos are looking for ways to upgrade the offense, including potentially looking way up North for an opportunity to add some intrigue at the QB2 position behind Russell Wilson in 2023.
Specifically, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Broncos are bringing in CFL star quarterback Nathan Rourke for a visit on Tuesday. Rourke played this past season for the BC Lions and has already had visits with the Raiders and Jaguars.
CFL QB Nathan Rourke met with the Raiders last week, is visiting with the Jacksonville Jaguars today and is scheduled to visit the Denver Broncos on Tuesday.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 5, 2022
CFL star Nathan Rourke an intriguing QB2 option for Denver Broncos in 2023
The former Ohio Bobcats star wouldn’t be getting his first NFL shot if he signed with the Broncos — or anyone else — in the coming weeks. As a matter of fact, he was at camp with the New York Giants, as a wide receiver, as recently as 2021.
With that being said, this is not the guy you want playing wide receiver:
.@nathan_rourke fires a BAZOOKA down field for a TD!#CFLGameday | @BCLions pic.twitter.com/avZPQIm7gR
— CFL (@CFL) July 10, 2022
It doesn’t sound like Rourke is overly interested in the idea of just a reserve/futures deal or something like that. After throwing for 3,349 yards with 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in just 10 games this past season, Rourke is seemingly content to stay in Canada if he has a better shot there in terms of having a stable role or making more money.
This particular site which covers the CFL thinks the Broncos rank right behind the Los Angeles Rams as perfect destinations for Rourke given their current situation with Russell Wilson. At this point, nobody knows if the Rams have interest in signing Rourke, so are the Broncos truly the perfect destination?
As we have previously stated, this team needs a better contingency plan for Russell Wilson in 2022. They need somewhere they could actually turn if things go bad once again next year. Because of Wilson’s pay grade, the Broncos will undoubtedly need to explore any and all of the most cost-effective approaches to backing up Wilson in 2023, while also upgrading in the talent and upside department.
There is absolutely no guarantee that Rourke’s success in the CFL would translate to the NFL, but the guy’s obviously got a cannon…If nothing else, you have to applaud the Denver Broncos for at least being proactive here. They shouldn’t be leaving any stone unturned when it comes to upgrading the offense, and that’s truly extending to every position which includes backup quarterback.
Josh Johnson just left the team for the 49ers after the Jimmy Garoppolo injury. The Broncos have a decent backup in Brett Rypien but nobody is under the impression or illusion that the team could “turn” to Rypien at any point in time and find sustained offensive success.
Broncos loss versus Baltimore proves that Russell Wilson isn’t issue
The Denver Broncos' recent loss to the Baltimore Ravens proves what we've seen all season, which is that Russell Wilson is not the primary issue.
Perhaps a guy like Rourke isn’t either, but it might be worth finding out over the course of an offseason of working with a new staff, working with Russell Wilson in the QB room, and getting a legitimate shot in the NFL as a quarterback after initially trying out as a receiver.