Report: Number one mission for the Broncos this offseason is finding a starting quarterback

According to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Denver Broncos President of Football Operations/General Manager John Elway’s number one mission this offseason will be to find a starting quarterback. He states that “all options are on the table” for them this offseason.

Rapoport states that the Broncos could sign a high priced veteran like Kirk Cousins and Drew Brees, drafting a quarterback like Josh Rosen, Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield, or Lamar Jackson early in the 2018 NFL Draft, potentially trading for someone like Alex Smith(Or Andrew Luck for you dreamers out there) or potentially doing the veteran/high draft pick pairing this offseason. Either way, the Broncos do not feel that Trevor Siemian or Paxton Lynch is their future at the quarterback position.

Now if we look back at John Elway’s tenure as Broncos GM there is one thing he has done well multiple times. That thing is quick fixes. He has signed Peyton Manning to fix the offensive side of the ball. He has brought in DeMarcus Ware, Aqib Talib, and Wade Phillips to fix the defense. Now the offense and quarterback position is lacking, so what route do you think he’ll take to fix that position? The quick fix way.

So what player who will likely be available can help provide a quick fix to the Broncos offense? That player is none other than current Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins.

There is plenty of talk and rumors out there connecting Cousins to Denver and it makes a ton of sense. Cousins will demand top money and is not an elite quarterback, but he’s still a pretty good one and would instantly improve the Denver Broncos postseason hopes. Especially with Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger nearing the end of their careers. It would also allow the Broncos to use their early round pick on one of the top non-QB prospects in the draft.

As for the draft route? It’s possible if they miss out on Cousins. It’s unclear if USC’s Sam Darnold will declare, but it appears that UCLA’s Josh Rosen will head to the NFL. As of this morning, he appears to be the favorite to be the number one overall pick. I expect both the Browns and Giants to select a quarterback and both currently pick ahead of the Broncos. So names like Baker Mayfield, Lamar Jackson, Mason Rudolph, and Josh Allen could be the names Elway targets.

The other option could be pairing a veteran like Drew Brees or Eli Manning with one of the rookies named above to be their quarterbacks. I do not think Brees will be going anywhere with the Saints current success, but Eli will be available. I doubt Eli would be the preferred option but it is an option.

Rapoport notes Alex Smith as a trade option, and he could be a decent placeholder for the Broncos, but I do not think that’s the route Elway really wants to go.

Either way, we are going to have a brand new starting quarterback in Denver in 2018. It will be interesting what the Broncos do with failed opening day starter Trevor Siemian, first-round bust Paxton Lynch, and the IR’d rookie Chad Kelly.

Fun times ahead Broncos Country!