:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59005977/908475348.jpg.0.jpg)
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Broncos have plans to sign veteran quarterback Case Keenum to a deal.
When free agency opens Wednesday, former Vikings’ QB Case Keenum intends to sign with the Denver Broncos, sources tell ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2018
First QB domino has fallen.
QB race is on.
Reports of the deal began to surface Tuesday morning - with Keenum planning to sign a two-year deal for $18 million/year:
Keenum deal is expected to be 2 years, $18m per
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) March 13, 2018
He is a veteran quarterback who will likely serve as a placeholder/stopgap option for the Broncos until whoever they draft in the first-round of the 2018 NFL Draft is ready. Who that player is and how long Keenum will be the starter will be big questions going forward.
Keenum turned 30 years old in February and is entering his 7th year in the NFL. Last season he had a breakout year for the Minnesota Vikings and led them to the NFC Championship game. During that season he played 15 games and totaled 3,547 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. He completed 67.6% of his passes and had a quarterback rating of 98.3. All of these numbers were career highs for Case Keenum.
During those 15 games, Keenum threw for 2 or more touchdown passes seven times and had a quarterback rating over 100 a total of eight times. Keenum also earned an overall grade of 85.3 from Pro Football Focus and was their #9 overall quarterback in 2017.
After striking out on Kirk Cousins who will likely sign with the Minnesota Vikings, the Broncos turned their sights to their “Plan B” which so happened to be Case Keenum. He is the second best veteran quarterback on the market and has experience with Gary Kubiak who holds a prominent role within the Broncos Front Office. So the fit makes sense.
It is a bit of an underwhelming signing since many of us had high expectations but he is an upgrade over what the Broncos have had at the quarterback position the past few years. Now all eyes turn to what the Broncos do in the draft. Will they trade up? Will stay at 5? Will it be Josh Rosen, Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield, or Josh Allen? Those questions will be widely debated in the coming weeks.
Look for incumbent starter Trevor Siemian to get traded and this puts the future of Paxton Lynch in doubt as well. Especially if the Broncos use their first-round pick on a quarterback.
As for now, the Broncos have them a steady option at the quarterback position to hold down the fort until the rookie(whoever that may be) is ready to take over.