Broncos Not Panicking About QB: Ryan Edwards

Broncos Focus On Draft and Current QBs

Ryan Edwards

The Broncos free agency roller-coaster has slowed down considerably, with the exception of perhaps the quarterback position. Early in free agency, we saw the exit of many of the valuable players that helped win the franchise its third World Championship. The Broncos countered the losses of their key personnel by matching an offer sheet on RB C.J. Anderson, adding starting offensive tackles Okung/Stephenson and yesterday, former Texans DE Jared Crick. The Broncos also traded for QB Mark Sanchez and, while negotiations have slowed in pursuit of 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick, they are far from over. The overriding message from the Broncos staff present at the Boy Scout’s Breakfast was mostly as was expected, but probably caught a few fans by surprise: the team is comfortable going into the 2016 season with Sanchez, Siemian and a drafted rookie. How much does that raise your panic level, Broncos fans? If John Elway can’t come to an agreement with Kaepernick, how do you like this team’s chances to compete next season?

It’s important to understand that the Broncos personnel can’t comment on players from other teams so any hope of answers about Colin Kaepernick’s (or any other current player’s) fit on this team wouldn’t have happened at the Boy Scout’s Breakfast Thursday morning. The coaches can, however, say all of the nice things they want about their current players. Schlereth and Evans had an awesome opportunity to sit down with the three Broncos coordinators: Rick Dennison, Wade Phillips. and Joe DeCamillis. Offensive Coordinator Rick Dennison feels confident in the current pair of quarterbacks he has to work with this season. “At QB, Mark [Sanchez] has been in a system similar to ours and we feel pretty good about [him],” said Dennison. “He has won playoff games. Trevor [Siemian], we drafted him last year. Very talented arm. Just getting him used to the system, getting him more experience.” We know it won’t remain only these two quarterbacks in competition during training camp but the coordinators do plan for the season under the circumstances they are handed.

Gary Kubiak addressed the media Thursday morning about the quarterback situation. “I feel good about the two guys that we have. We’ll see what happens. Generally you continue to move forward and try to get better. I’m going to stay focused on Mark and Trevor right now, and doing everything I can to get ready for this draft right now.”

Gary Kubiak at Boy Scouts breakfast this a.m. Says meeting w Kaepernick "positive." But says #Broncos QB focus on Sanchez/Siemian and draft.

— Paul Klee (@bypaulklee) April 7, 2016

The Broncos are currently very close to the salary cap but yesterday were able to sign former 4th round pick in 2012 with the Texans DE Jared Crick to a 2-year, $4 million contract. Crick in his opening press conference yesterday said that the Broncos were his first choice because of his former coaching staff presence in Kubiak, Phillips and defensive line coach Bill Kollar who are now with the Broncos. Phillips was quite pleased with the addition of Crick. “He’s a blue-collar, hard worker. Makes plays. We’re getting a starter there.” The team needs to replace DE Malik Jackson who left during free agency to the Jaguars but also may need the depth if DE Derek Wolfe is forced to serve any suspension for his altercation over the weekend in a downtown nightclub. For what it’s worth, no charges have been filed against Wolfe however last season, when Safety T.J. Ward got into an altercation at a nightclub, the charges were eventually dropped but he still served a 1-game suspension. The NFL is currently looking into the matter but the timing of the Broncos signing Crick, a day removed from TMZ’s video showing Wolfe throwing a punch at a bar, shouldn’t go unnoticed.

Coach Kubiak also beamed about Crick. “We talked about it when free agency initially started. Jared is an effort player. We think that he stands for what we want for our football team and how he goes about his business and how he plays. He’ll be a good addition and it was good to see him yesterday. Looking forward to getting him started with the team on the 18th.”

The next big piece for the Broncos to figure out is whether or not they will give a little bit in their negotiations with Colin Kaepernick. Right now, the sides are at a stalemate but this is part of the process. It’s posturing. The Broncos still have the upper-hand, but probably will have to offer more draft compensation in order to move things along IF they are set on acquiring Colin to compete in training camp. The position of the team (today), however, is that they aren’t panicking about who their quarterback is going to be. At least not in April.

Ryan Edwards

@ryanedwards1043

TOP PHOTO CREDIT: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports