The Denver Broncos just hired a new general manager on Wednesday. Former Minnesota Vikings assistant GM George Paton will succeed John Elway at GM.
Even before Elway stepped down from GM, speculation was rampant about what the future held for quarterback Drew Lock and whether the Broncos would give him another year as the “known” starter. Once the Broncos started chasing Paton, rumors spread that the new GM could try to get a “high-level” QB, whether through free agency, commercial market or NFL recruitment.
The Broncos currently hold the 9th overall choice in the draft, which puts them at least an attack distance from possibly landing one of the best QBs in the 2021 class. On Saturday, The Colorado Springs Gazette’s Woody Paige published a column addressing the Broncos’ future as a defender and, anticipating that it would reach the press, he tweeted the following version on Twitter.
“I just finished the column by covering a lot of Broncos points. Drew Lock will be QB,” Paige tweeted.
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Paige is a longtime Broncos insider and has covered the team in one way or another for decades. The man is connected. His view of Lock is likely to be polite, but it is only a man’s opinion.
Paige’s considered reading of the situation is that Lock will have 2021. However, if this is how things happen, don’t expect the Broncos to hold on to serve as a defender. Paton will move, but first, he already said that he will turn all the stones in an effort to update the list and be part of “all business”.
This could include a more proven veteran to be hired by a free agency that can push and guide Lock while providing the Broncos with a more reliable option than, say, Jeff Driskel.
Lock is coming out of a second year of ups and downs, in which he started 13 games ranging from 4 to 9, passing 2,933 yards and 16 touchdowns with 15 interceptions. He completed an insignificant 57.3% of his passes (among the worst in the league), but also managed three touchdowns.
There are several metrics that put Lock in fifth place among the NFL’s starting quarterbacks, but, at the same time, there were several peripheral factors that contributed to his less than stellar second year, including a throwing shoulder injury, loss of his catch No. 1, Courtland Sutton, for almost the entire season and, of course, the pandemic robbing him of precious preseason and off-season representatives while he assimilated another brand-new manual.
The jury is still very determined about Lock, but he showed some noteworthy flashes, including his performance in Week 14 against the Carolina Panthers, in which he threw four touchdowns on his way to a 280-yard pass. As difficult as things have become for Lock at times in 2020, his performance has improved dramatically since Week 11.
Maybe that’s what Paton is finally dealing with, or maybe the new GM prefers to spend its free agent and allocate capital to other breaches in the squad. Only time will tell, but it would make sense to give the Lock era one last season to take off, especially since it coincides with Vic Fangio’s mandate to win or go home.
But this will not be the latest Broncos-related QB rumor or internal report on the subject. It’s a long line to rinse between now and the April draft.
Follow Chad on Twitter @ChadNJensen and @MileHighHuddle.