Five Questions: Will it be Tua, Brady or Lock at QB for Broncos in 2020?

The Denver Broncos head into the 2020 offseason with many questions already, but the subject of quarterback has been on the minds of many already. Could John Elway really nab another future Hall of Fame gunslinger in Tom Brady? Would he pull the trigger on a top talent like Tua Tagovailoa?

Those questions and more are what’s buzzing about this week, and here are some thoughts on how to answer them:

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1 | If Tua Tagovailoa is available at No. 15, should the Broncos take him?

If a couple of different things fall in different ways, this is a no-brainer type of question.

If Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa — once thought as the slam-dunk No. 1 pick in this year’s NFL Draft — doesn’t dislocate his hip. If Denver Broncos second-round pick Drew Lock doesn’t see much playing time or, worse, falls flat when he does.

But with the possibility of Tagovailoa’s injury pushing him down the draft board, could the Broncos really pull the trigger despite Lock’s 4-1 finish to the regular season?

Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt gave his take to “Schlereth and Evans” this week:

“I would put Tua as the No. 2 quarterback overall. And I really think because of his hip, he may slide into that slot. You may be sitting there, if you’re the Denver Broncos, staring at Tua Tagovailoa or your incumbent … Drew Lock. And, quite frankly, even though we’ve seen Drew play a few games, Tua’s a better player than Drew Lock.”

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2 | If not Tua, could the Broncos pursue Tom Brady?

After an early exit from the postseason, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said via Instagram that he still has “more to prove.” But, will he be able to do so in New England?

On Monday, 1043TheFan.com’s Cecil Lammey wrote that he thinks it’s “interesting” to ponder where Brady could land, specifically because it makes sense that he could find a home with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Said Lammey: “The Chargers are moving into a new stadium, which they share with the Rams, and Brady could be back home in California.”

Being the spot Peyton Manning ended up in 2012, Denver has also been suggested as a new home for the future Hall of Famer, but “Orlando and Sandy” co-host Orlando Franklin thinks Brady will stay in New England.

“When I look at Tom Brady, he’s holding out for New England. He’s not making these comments because he’s thinking he’s going to another football team,” Franklin said, adding that the Patriots would be “foolish” to let their legendary quarterback walk.

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3 | What’s the deal with the Colorado Rockies offseason?

The lack of movement by the Colorado Rockies to upgrade its roster this offseason hasn’t gone unnoticed, and not just by the local media.

On Thursday, USA Today columnist Bob Nightengale pointed out that Colorado is just one of two teams who haven’t spent a dime this offseason, joining the Chicago Cubs.

The #Cubs and #Rockies are the last two teams who have not spent a dollar in free agency this winter with outfielder Guillermo Heredia signing one-year, $1 million deal with the #Pirates.

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 9, 2020

So, what gives?

Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich, writes 1043TheFan.com’s James Merilatt, apparently “believes last year was an aberration.”

“He expects players to bounce back in 2020, which will ultimately lead to a better result on the field for the team,” Merilatt writes

For that to happen, though, Merilatt says Colorado needs more production from its highest-paid players.

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4 | Has Nuggets star Nikola Jokic finally flipped the switch?

In consecutive games this week, Nuggets forward Nikola Jokic has impressed the NBA world.

First, he dropped 47 points on the Atlanta Hawks, a career high, on Monday. Then, on Wednesday, he went toe-to-toe with Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic and came out the victor, hitting the game-winner with 7 seconds remaining.

So, does that mean Jokic has found that aggressiveness within to sustain top-tier NBA status? Here’s what “Stokley and Zach” had to say:

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5 | Will the defensive backfield due of Will Parks and Justin Simmons remain intact for the Broncos in 2020?

In the 2016 NFL Draft, Denver selected itself two safeties who’ve flourished into starter-level players — Justin Simmons in round three (96th overall) and Will Parks in round six (219th overall).

The due has since become somewhat of a force in the Broncos defensive backfield, with Simmons most recently earning a second-team All-Pro nod.

But with both heading into the 2020 offseason as free agents, with one (or both) be back in orange and blue next season?

“Justin Simmons is a must sign, and the Broncos ought to do more than franchise (tag) him. Give him a long-term deal with significant guarantees,” said Sandy Clough this week. “And while you’re at it, I think you keep Will Parks.

“They’re not going to re-sign Chris Harris. That seems pretty obvious by now. And if you don’t sign Harris, I think you keep Parks, who’s a good guy in the room and a pretty good all-around player who can fill a variety of functions in the defensive secondary.”