2019 Broncos' Season, Quarterback outlook

Quarterback is the most important position on the football field, and for the Broncos it's been a rough go since Peyton Manning retired following the 2015 season. In 2016 and 2017, the Broncos used Trevor Siemian, with a heavy dose of Paxton Lynch. In 2018, they turned to free agent Case Keenum. But none of it was good enough to get them into the Post Season.

For 2019, the Broncos have three quarterbacks under contract so far. Joe Flacco came in trade from the Ravens, Garrett Grayson has been signed as a development player and the Broncos yesterday re-signed Kevin Hogan, who served as the backup in 2018. And while that might be the answer for 2019, it's time to consider what else the Broncos might do with this unit.

Quarterbacks on the Roster:
Joe Flacco: Flacco comes the Broncos at 34 years old with 11 years experience. In his career, he's gone 96-67 as a starter and won a Super Bowl. He's also put up 38,245 yards and 212 touchdowns with just 136 INTs. He's a veteran with a big arm and the hope is he provides some stability. He's due $18.5 million in 2019, but none of it is guaranteed. Neither are the next two years on his contract. That means the Broncos have more options if it doesn't pan out than they did with Keenum's deal.

Kevin Hogan: Hogan is a journeyman who was drafted in the sixth round in 2016 by the Seahawks and traded to the Chiefs. Hogan didn't get into a game for the Broncos in 2018, but he played in four and started one for the Browns in 2017. He threw for 517 yards, four TDs and five INTs. He's on a one-year deal, so this give the Broncos plenty of flexibility as he's likely little more than a capable career backup.

Garrett Grayson: Grayson was drafted in 2015 by the Saints and has never played a regular season down. He was signed to a short contract, will be 28 and is due no guaranteed money in 2019 or 2020, after which he'd be an RFA. He's a development guy at best.

Quarterbacks on the Market:
With Denver wading into this market yesterday and re-signing Hogan, it seems like they've made up their minds. And with many QBs already coming off the board, there aren't a lot of incredible options left. But here's a couple veterans the Broncos could add.

* Josh McCown. The veteran was with the Jets the past two years, and is likely considering retirement.
* Mike Glennon. Long a backup in Tampa Bay, Glennon signed a big deal with Chicago in 2017 and flamed out. Then he moved to Arizona in 2018, and was released. He's little more than a veteran backup.
* Matt Cassel. Same here, just a veteran backup.
* Josh Johnson. Johnson showed some flashes for the Redskins to end 2018, but he would likely not be much of a long-term solution, either.

2019 Draft Class:
The question here is whether the Broncos try and make a swing for the long-term future at pick 10 in the First Round, or if they try to find a development guy with upside in the middle or later rounds. Below are a few candidates that fit either position.

Pick 10 Options:
Dennis Haskins. Haskins was once viewed as the best QB in this draft class, but now his position is unclear. Kyler Murray seems destined to go one to the Cardinals. The Giants could take a QB, but they've waffled of late. The Jaguars, meanwhile, made a big commitment to Nick Foles which seemingly makes taking a QB high unlikely. So Haskins, who only started for one year at Ohio State but threw for 4,831 yards and 50 TDs, could be there at pick 10. If he is, it would certainly be tempting for Elway to snap him up.

Drew Lock: Lock played four years at Missouri and was a starter for three seasons, so he bring experience. He also has a big arm. He threw for 12,193 yards and 99 TDs in college. But while he threw for 44 TDs as a junior, that number slipped to 28 as a senior. He also comes with accuracy questions, as he only completed 60 percent or more of his passes during his final year. Elway has seemingly been enamored of Lock throughout the process, and it wouldn't be a shock for him to end up as a Bronco.

Later Round Options:
Will Grier: Grier played the last two seasons for West Virginia, completing 65.7 percent of his passes, throwing for 7,354 yards and 71 TDs. The Broncos met with Grier at the combine and he could be a guy they look at if they grab a quarterback in middle rounds.

Jarrett Stidham: Stidham was also a two year starter, but for Auburn in the SEC. He completed 63.6 percent of his passes, throwing for 5,952 yards and 36 TDs. He's a guy who seemed to do well for himself at the Combine and could be an under-the-radar swing.

Brett Rypien: Rypien would likely be a real late round swing. He was a four-year starter at Boise State, and someone the Broncos interviewed at the Combine. He's also the nephew of former Redskins' quarterback Mark Rypien, so it wouldn't be the first time the Broncos decided to take a swing on someone with NFL bloodlines. Rypien completed 64 percent of his passes for 13,578 yards and 90 TDs in four years. He brings experience, albeit for a smaller school.

Best Guesses:
With the signing of Hogan as a backup again, I think the Broncos are done wading in the free agent pool. The team carried only two QBs most of 2018, and were comfortable with that being Keenum and Hogan. Seemingly carrying Flacco and Hogan wouldn't be a big change. The question is will they draft.

Last year the Broncos had the fifth pick, and interviewed nearly every major QB option in a great class. They're doing similar research with a lesser class this year, but it's still no guarantee they take a QB in the draft. My gut says they will not take on at pick 10, and if one is taken it will be a potential development guy in the later rounds. Grabbing Rypien in the fifth or sixth round seems like the most likely thing to me. But there's still plenty of time to read the draft tea leaves.

Either way, the Broncos have left themselves plenty of options for a way forward in 2020 if they don't like what they see this season.