Put down your pitchforks and blow torches friends, the Denver Broncos do in fact need a quarterback this offseason as Brady Quinn is likely to leave via free agency, though Adam Weber--who spent 2011 on the Broncos' practice squad-- is signed to a future contract.
Weber's signing could indicate one of two things: Denver likes having Weber play scout team quarterback when prepping their defense for conventional quarterbacks or it could mean that the Broncos plan on molding Tim Tebow into a 'more conventional' quarterback and having Weber as insurance.
However, anyone that saw Quinn warming up on the sideline of the AFC Divisional Playoffs game versus the New England Patriots felt a brief moment of panic. I don't see Denver re-signing Quinn nor do I see them going full speed ahead with Tebow, Weber and a something round rookie either.
Expect the Broncos to find a backup via free agency, here is who I would look at (and who is available):
I am not going to lie, it's pretty paper thin out there as far as available talent goes at the quarterback position. The Pittsburgh Steelers Dennis Dixon is a quarterback that I can see being able to step up and taking over a Tebow style offense. Staying with the Steelers Charlie Batch is also a decent option, however neither will provide much as far as improvement goes at the position.
The Oakland Raiders will likely be forced to let Jason Campbell walk, as he'll want an opportunity to start somewhere and for this exact reason he probably won't look toward Denver as an option. Vince Young appears to be very Tebow-like occasionally, but I don't see John Elway wanting that type of player on the Broncos. John Fox's former quarterback Jake Delhomme is looking to retire this off-season so don't place your bets with him.
So who do I think makes sense? The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Josh Johnson, he's young and can play that offense that I expect the Broncos to go forward with. He's a University of San Diego alumni and played for Jim Harbaugh, so there will be competition for him likely. If Denver really wants to go for a long bomb and a veteran presence I would insist on bringing in Chad Henne, who is also familiar with the wild cat and I think could fit in as a backup with the Broncos.
Other free agent quarterbacks who will be on the market: Derek Anderson, Trent Edwards, Max Hall (RFA), Donovan McNabb, Drew Stanton, and Charlie Whitehurst.
Then of course there is always Kyle Orton and Brady Quinn.
Missed something? Here are my other free agency previews: running backs and wide receivers.
2 recs | 46 comments
The QB spot is going to be interesting
i think it will say alot about how we’re going to run our offense. If we get a mobile guy, i think we’ll build off last year, if we get a traditional guy, then we’ll be more of a traditional offense i think.
Personally i’d rather go after a traditional QB. No QB besides Cam Newton can run the tebow offense effectively in the NFL. Johnson and Dixon are athletic speedy QB’s, but both wouldnt survive doing the zone read or option.
Personally i’d go after a guy like David Garrard if his back checks out.
Scotty Payne - January 22, 2012
+1 to Garrard
yibberat - January 22, 2012
Johnson is a
4.44 40-yard. Pretty impressive for a quarterback.
Garrard is available, but him not being retained yet tells me something is up…
IanHenson - January 22, 2012
Oh i agree, he's pretty athletic, no denying that
but is he going to survive if tebow goes down for an extended period of time? i just cant see us doing the samethings with any other QB outside of Newton that we do with Tebow.
Johnson has the same body type as vick, vick is always dinged up.
Yeah, if something serious is up with Garrard then deff no, but if he checks out medically, then i’d go get him.
Personally i’d love to draft russell wilson. He’s an athletic guy like johnson, probably not as fast, but the kid can throw too. I believe he would be a 1st rounder if he wasnt 5’11-6’0. Could probably get him in the 4-5th round
Scotty Payne - January 22, 2012
Outside of maybe a receiver I don't see any other
offensive position being drafted except quarterback. I do think the Broncos will draft one, I don’t see them making that rookie their second string quarterback.
IanHenson - January 22, 2012
Not even running back?
Scotty Payne - January 22, 2012
I wouldn't...
But that’s tomorrow’s post. I am of differing opinion on drafting a running back than that of some of the writers on staff here.
IanHenson - January 22, 2012
Looking forward to that
i believe we should draft 1-2 RB’s, but we’ll save that for tomorrow. Great post btw, love talking this stuff
Scotty Payne - January 22, 2012
Thanks a lot Scotty
Love having you contribute.
IanHenson - January 22, 2012
Look at Leinhart this year
Any player can go out at any time…doesn’t matter if you are a mobile qb or not.
trumanj - January 22, 2012
well obviously
but no QB can do what Tebow does.
Scotty Payne - January 22, 2012
We're not going to get a backup who does what Tebow does
We’re going to get a backup who fits into what our offense does. And that offense is all pre-Tebow.
yibberat - January 22, 2012
"That offense is all pre-Tebow"
I’m not exactly sure what this means but it sounds like you are suggesting they are going to build an offense… and THEN fit Tebow into it?
I do think that if the Broncos move forward with Tebow then they absolutely have to play to his strengths. It will dictate how they draft as well.
BroncoPH - January 22, 2012
Do we really want to bring in Chad Henne,
who had said, right before the 2010 Draft, that Tim Tebow wasn’t an NFL quarterback, only to take it back just about a week later? On second thought, this might not be such a bad idea. After all, a healthy-helping of crow and humble-pie might be exactly what Henne needs.
9798 - January 22, 2012
Jason Campbell...good arm and mobile!
Josh Johnson is a nice choice also…
Hogblog - January 22, 2012
I like him too
If you’ll remember he was originally a possibility in the Jay Cutler trade… Who knows had the Broncos traded for Campbell instead of Kyle Orton.
IanHenson - January 22, 2012
I'd take campbell, but doubt he wants a backup job.
Scotty Payne - January 22, 2012
Campbell is not super mobile at all...
He’s is 100% a pocket QB, not a scrambler. And his pocket presence ain’t great either.
He’s a big guy and fairly athletic, but much more a Eli Manning type mobile than he is a Jeff Garcia….
cjfarls - January 24, 2012
Did you really suggest Chad Henne?
Because he watched Ronnie Brown, etal, send him to the bench occasionally?
Really?
That makes him a viable Tebow backup?
Not to be redundant, but really?
Pigskin - January 22, 2012
Really.
IanHenson - January 22, 2012
You are my favorite writer at MHR, but I can’t see the logic. Why not keep Quinn, and, similarly,why would Henne be interested?
Pigskin - January 22, 2012
Thank you very much
for the compliment, I am not all in on Henne, just saying amongst the veterans that Denver has a shot at he makes the most sense to me. Since you mentioned Quinn, Henne is better than Quinn in nearly every category. Henne is serviceable and would be great in relief in my opinion, where as with Quinn we’re still not sure what we would get even after two seasons.
IanHenson - January 22, 2012
Makes sense to me
Scotty Payne - January 22, 2012
I vote for David Garrard!
MileHighFlyr - January 22, 2012
Dixon or Quinn
Add in Garrard and Campbell will want to start.
Topher Doll - January 22, 2012
Offense
Just listening to everything that Elway has said, IMO we will be a more conventional offense so I think the qb doesnt necessarily have to be mobile. I want competition at all positions and I think the Broncos will bring in a mid-round pick and either Henne, Quinn or Johnson. My dark horse is Anderson and my crazy “he’s not a free agent but i wouldn’t be surprised” pick is Clausen………..I got all kinds of crazy things going through this brain…..after that Clausen pick I’m sure some of you are questioning if I have one…lol
milehighinTO - January 22, 2012
Fox picked Clausen once...
Wouldn’t put it past him. Anderson is also a possibility especially if there is any move in the offensive coaching lines, I agree.
IanHenson - January 22, 2012
was it Fox who picked Clausen? did he have that much of a say on draft day?
SteveUK - January 23, 2012
The reality is
outsiders (fans) never really know what goes on behind closed doors. Who had now much say, who really designs game plans, who’s input into any decision weighs heaviest with trades, drafts, etc.
That holds true almost everywhere, including Denver.. Fan perception or media interpretaion is not always reality.
Boiler etc - January 23, 2012
NFL QB
Why do people think a qb wouldn’t be interested in coming to Denver? There is only 32 starting qb spots, 32 back-up spots, and 30-32 third string spots? I say get in where you fit in, and compete….As Elway said, “if you don’t want to compete for the job, then this isn’t the place for you”.
milehighinTO - January 22, 2012
I think it's more about Tebow
Who would want to compete against that? I think someone who doesn’t have a problem coming in and playing backup wouldn’t have a problem coming into Denver.
IanHenson - January 22, 2012
QB
That is true. That being said, I don’t think Campbell, for example, will get as many looks as a starter, so you have to take any job you can get to stay in the NFL. How many places do you think Campbell can start in your opinion?
milehighinTO - January 23, 2012
+1
grampa16 - January 23, 2012
Peyton Manning, maybe.
9798 - January 23, 2012
No mcnabb love?
I think he would be good. A lot of you are probably underestimating the fraction of the offense that is normal.
I am also wondering if lefty would be even more important than mobile, so they could fix the pass blocking.
TheMascotArmy - January 23, 2012
He's a bum and doesn't like to work hard.
He was good in Philly because he knew the system. Wash and Minn couldn’t teach him new tricks and I doubt we could either.
Triz06 - January 23, 2012
I do like McNabb, especially in this system
But I believe if he can’t get a starting job, he’ll retire.
Topher Doll - January 23, 2012
Geez, if the choices are Webber, Campbell, Dixon or Johnson then I’m in favour of playing all next year without a back up
mikebirty - January 23, 2012
How is Tom Brandstater not an option?!
Swissy14 - January 23, 2012
Why would he be?
He’s been on 5 teams and has attempted 2 NFL passes. Miami, Dallas, Indy, and StL all had a look at him and didn’t even think he was worth keeping around as a back up despite the documented QB injury issues those teams have had the last couple seasons
Triz06 - January 23, 2012
I voted for Johnson.
I always like to see Pioneer League guys make it in the NFL, since it is a rare occurrence (I played for a Pioneer League team). Johnson and Dixon would be the most logical and most suited QBs and they would be both be quite a few steps ahead of any drafted QB in that they both have multiple years of NFL experience.
DE_BroncoFan - January 23, 2012
Jason Campbell for me
Calikula - January 23, 2012
Darron Thomas
Adam Manter - January 23, 2012
Henne or Garrard are probably the safest (If healthy)
though would be happy with Dixon or Johnson too… Quinn also is a possibility just because he already knows the offense and his role, but EFX will have a better sense on how big an upgrade someone else might be (and thus whether its worth getting someone new).
cjfarls - January 24, 2012
Yep
Yep
Digger24 - January 24, 2012
Wow, that is a thin field at QB. Nothing encouraging.
Orange Rush - January 25, 2012
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