The Broncos continue to be in quarterback purgatory

The Broncos just can’t get it right at the quarterback position. Since Peyton Manning retired, this team has struggled to find a quality replacement – either short- or long-term.

In the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, the Broncos selected Drew Lock out of Missouri. He was a favorite of general manager John Elway during the pre-draft process and it was a bit of a shock that he fell to round two. The Broncos moved up to get him, so that he could be groomed as the eventual quarterback of the future.

In the team’s preseason game against the 49ers, Lock suffered a thumb injury that forced him to the Injured Reserve list to begin the regular season. After waiting a couple of weeks longer than needed, the Broncos are going to let Lock begin practicing this week. That opens up a 21-day window for them to decide whether or not to activate him or shut him down for his entire rookie season.

It seems like a no-brainer that they would activate Lock, but this team still seems hesitant when talking about the plan for Lock. On Monday, Broncos head coach Vic Fangio was clear that there is no plan mapped out for the rookie quarterback to be the team’s starter before the close of the regular season.

“No, it’s not mapped because it’s going to be determined by how he looks and what we think,” Fangio said.

The Broncos continue to be in quarterback purgatory. How do they get out? Let’s take a look.

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Just Play Lock

In football and in life, clarity is always best when making important decisions. Lock isn’t going to get better sitting on the bench. Or even worse, if he’s not able to practice because he’s shut down after his 21-day audition.

I really believe the Broncos should just play Lock – ASAP.

I know, the AFC is wide open behind the Ravens and the Patriots, but the Broncos would need a minor miracle in order to make the playoffs. They don’t need to make that run and even if they do make it to the dance they would likely get bounced in the wild card round.

Why do that when you could play Lock and get clarity on the all-important future?

The Broncos have some talent, and you can see the light at the end of the tunnel with Fangio and his staff. It seems like this team is on the right track, but they are missing a huge piece to their team. They need to do whatever is possible to find their franchise quarterback.

Starting Lock by the time they play the Chargers at home in Week 13 gives the team five games to evaluate the rookie passer. That’s not what they could have had, but it’s enough to see if there are flashes of greatness.

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Just Trade Lock

If they’re not going to play Lock this year, then the Broncos need to entertain the idea of trading him away. I know it may seem outlandish to some out there, but this team needs to stop dragging their feet when it comes to taking the plunge on a young starter.

Fangio said Lock had to show a couple of things if he wants to be activated with the chance to start.

“Good quarterback play and that he belongs.” Fangio said.

Imagine if Lock does not get activated. Sure, we’ll hear all sorts of reasons about why he wasn’t ready, but at the end of the day, it is just a bad look for Lock and for the Broncos if he doesn’t get to see the field at some point as a rookie.

If Lock is a “mystery box” as a prospect because he doesn’t play as a rookie, then perhaps the Broncos could find something in return for him. It wouldn’t be a second-round pick, but if they believe he’s not ready as a rookie they can’t waste time waiting and hoping for him to be the answer.

They need to make a move for a young franchise quarterback and the worst thing they could do is have two young quarterbacks on the roster to compete for the starting job. (Remember Team Paxton and Team Trevor? That was awful.)

If they’re not going to start Lock – which I feel is a mistake – then they might as well see what they can get for him.

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Move Up in the Draft

Even though they’ve only won three games so far this year, the Broncos might already be out of range for the top-tier quarterbacks in the 2020 NFL Draft. If the draft were to happen today, the Broncos would have the No. 9 overall pick.

Sure, they might see someone like Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm fall to them at that spot, but this team needs to be proactive when it comes to finding the right quarterback. That means the team should be aggressive and move up in the draft if they have to in order to get the pick they need.

Through trades leading up to this draft, the Broncos have five picks in the first three rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft. I consider the first three rounds “premium picks” based on the talent that is usually available every year coming out of college football. The Broncos could use this cache of picks to maneuver in the first round of the draft.

If they find a quarterback they like that won’t be there past the first pick or two, the Broncos need to trade whatever they can to get that guy. They have the picks to move around, and they could even use future picks to secure the player of their choice. This is a quarterback-heavy draft and there be as many as five quarterbacks selected in the top round. As aforementioned, the Broncos could wait but if they want a top pick (let’s say like LSU’s Joe Burrow), then they’ve got to move up.

Does anyone remember what the Chiefs gave up to move up 17 spots in the 2017 NFL Draft for Patrick Mahomes? Exactly my point. Just find the guy – the right guy – and nobody will care what you gave up for him. By the way, the Chiefs gave up two first-round picks and a third-round pick to the Bills to move up from No. 27 overall to No. 10 overall to get their superstar quarterback.

Do one of these three things (and maybe a combination of them) and you’ll get out of the purgatory your team currently resides in at the quarterback position.

Follow @CecilLammey