To draft a QB or to ink a free agent? For the Broncos, why not both?
Feb 22, 2018, 4:08 PM
Hall of Fame executive and ESPN analyst Bill Polian said that, among other issues, whether to draft a quarterback or sign one through free agency a “dilemma” he’s sure is keeping Denver Broncos general manager John Elway up at night.
“The question then is what’s the price? Balance that against the absurdly low price of a rookie in dollars,” said Polian, who argued that though the current quarterback market might be different than during his tenure with the Indianapolis Colts, neither Kirk Cousins nor Case Keenum is Peyton Manning despite demand for that level of compensation.
Going after a rookie, Polian said as well, comes with its own set of risks.
“Except for (Josh) Rosen, I’m not sure any rookie’s ready to play. Therein lies the difficulty with the rookie,” Polian said. “Yes, you got them likely for six years. You’re probably going to have the veteran you sign for five years. But one of those six years for the rookie is going to be a lost year because they’re not ready to play in the National Football League.”
But could the Broncos split the difference and sign a free agent quarterback and pick up another in the NFL Draft? “Pritchard and Cecil” co-host Cecil Lammey said Denver needs to at least add two.
“The Broncos need to draft a quarterback. Maybe not at No. 5. If you get Kirk Cousins, you’re not going to draft a quarterback at No. 5 — most likely,” Lammey said. “But get Kirk Cousins and draft Luke Falk in the third round. Draft Kyle Lauletta in the third round. Make that happen.
“That’s a situation I can trust more than we spent all this money on Kirk Cousins and if he gets hurt we’ve got to go to Paxton Lynch. You’re done if you do that.”
Sandy Clough agreed, saying that Paxton Lynch “will not be the backup next year.”
“I think the logical way to go when you have a glaring need, and there is nothing that says glaring need quite like the Broncos quarterback situation at the present time, you need to go out through free agency and the draft and get multiple quarterbacks,” Clough said. “At least two new ones.”
Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @johnnyhart7.
