2019 Broncos' Season, Quarterback Outlook

With the Broncos' preparing for the 2019 season, I'm looking at the outlook of the key positions. On offense, I've broken into three groups. Last week I looked at the offensive line. This week, I'm looking at the quarterbacks. With the skill positions coming next week.

2019 Outlook: Boy did this change after Wednesday, when the Broncos agreed to a trade for Joe Flacco, quarterback from the Baltimore Ravens. The trade can't be completed until the new league year on March 13, but it's expected to be a fourth round pick. Flacco, at a cost of $18.5 million in 2019, joins the quarterback group that currently includes last year's free agent pick up, Case Keenum, and recent signee Garrett Grayson. The Broncos named Flacco the starting quarterback, and if the 34-year-old can hold up physically and play well, he'll likely be in that spot at least all of 2019. Where does that leave Keenum? Well, he's the odd man out. He carries a cap figure of $21 million, and it's unlikely the Broncos will want to go into 2019 with $39.5 million committed to a pair of 30-something QBs that aren't long-term fixes and haven't exactly wowed people. The rumor is that the Broncos are looking to trade Keenum (which would leave just $3 million in dead cap space). If not, he's likely to be cut, leaving $10 million in dead cap on the books. Either way, it seems pretty certain that the Broncos carry both Flacco and Keenum into the regular season.

2019 Need: So, while Keenum isn't likely to remain on the roster, the Broncos will still need to fill out their QB roster. In addition, they will still need to figure out what the future of the position is. Flacco is due more than $20 million in each of the next two seasons (2020 and 2021), but none of it is guaranteed. If the Broncos like what they see they could keep him at that rate or try to re-work his deal. They could also part ways and not be obligated to pay a cent. The Broncos have also seen young prospects roll off the roster in recent years, as Trevor Siemian went to the Vikings, Paxton Lynch was released and is now with the Seahawks and Chad Kelly was released last October. The Broncos carried Kevin Hogan as a backup throughout the season, but he's now a free agent. Grayson feels like a developmental signing at best. So the Broncos have space to add a veteran if desired to fill out the depth chart, but could also be a player in the upcoming draft, where they hold the 10th overall pick.

How to Fill It: I wouldn't rule out a cheap veteran to round out the roster, at least during camp. But I think the Broncos need to make an effort to look toward the future. At 34, with a big contract and a history of back and hip issues, Flacco feels like as much of a short-term solution as Keenum was. And the Broncos, for the second year, are in the Top 10 in the draft. Unless they want to stay there, it's time to find the next anchor for the franchise. And they've been doing their homework with this draft class. They did the same last year, but eschewed taking a QB in the first round (or any round). While the 2018 draft class was undeniably the best the team had in years, at some point they need to take another swing at getting the right QB. That brings us to this class. Dennis Haskins is viewed as the top prospect, but he's likely to go a bit higher in the order. The Broncos have been high on Missouri prospect Drew Lock, and it feels like that would be the right move to make at this stage. They have the veteran in Flacco to start Week 1, but could also have the guy for the future right behind him in Lock. Hey, it worked for the Ravens with Flacco and Lamar Jackson in 2018, why not for the Broncos.