Good morning, Broncos Country.
History has an odd way of repeating itself. If Joe Flacco has his way, a particular scenario he endured last season won’t come to fruition in 2019. What’s that scenario you ask? It’s quite obvious — the Denver Broncos drafting a quarterback in the first round.
You all know the story. Last year, the Baltimore Ravens moved up to the final pick in the first round and selected Lamar Jackson, the heir apparent to the franchise. Many didn’t assume that Jackson would see the field in a starting role as a rookie, but after Flacco was injured in November the Ravens that all changed. They started him the remainder of the regular season and the duration of their Wild Card Round loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Flacco believes he gives the franchise the best shot at winning in 2019 — as do most fans. Therefore his bluntness with respect to the Broncos nabbing a future signal caller with the tenth overall selection wasn’t much of a surprise. It was simply stating the obvious for a player who wants to prove he still has what it takes to lead an offense on the gridiron. Adam Malnati and Ian St. Clair talked about Flacco’s comments on the latest MHR Radio Podcast (iTunes, Spotify and Stitcher.)
“It is what it is. I want to get this team to be the best it is with me at quarterback position. Obviously, that is not of most importance to draft a quarterback. But if we do, that’s completely out of my control,” stated Flacco. “I’m going to go out here and I’m going to compete and he’s going to have to come out here and be on the field with me every day, too. I’m all ready for that.”
#BroncosCountry LIVE: QB @JoeFlacco meets the media after Day 1 of our voluntary veteran minicamp https://t.co/D6BcBpzsRq
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) April 16, 2019
“Whether it’s 10 or whatnot, the only thing I care about is, like I said, I want this team to be as good as they can with me at quarterback,” Flacco added. “If we feel like as a team and an organization that we can add value to our team at the 10th pick, then I’m all for getting a guy that can add value to the team with me as the understood quarterback. At the end of the day, it is what it is.”
The prospect of the Broncos being sincerely interested in drafting a quarterback at the tenth overall selection is still up in the air. Though this much is true: they have brought in every high-ranked quarterback in this draft for a private workout. Where there is smoke, there is usually fire. However, there is a possibility that the aforementioned visits are being utilized to create the ultimate smokescreen — to build perception that the franchise is going to draft one early on.
While I’m not completely against the Broncos using their first pick on a collegiate quarterback, I’d much rather see them get an impact player who will contribute immediately as a rookie. There are always certain exceptions to the rule (quarterback being one of them), but I am a firm believer that early picks need to play as soon as possible. That’s the route I hope the Broncos go at ten overall and forego a quarterback at that slot.
All things considered, it’s quite clear that Flacco isn’t the long-term solution to the Broncos’ quarterback conundrum. That being said, is John Elway willing to create the potential for a quarterback controversy by drafting one in the first round? The 2019 NFL Draft is only eight days away. For now we will just have to sit tight and wait to see if history will repeat itself for Flacco.
As always, thank you for reading and here is today’s offering of Horse Tracks.
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