Plenty of variables exist in what promises to be a complex quarterback marketplace this offseason. Kirk Cousins and the Broncos are centerpiece elements of it, with both the quarterback and the team standing to affect how free agency and the draft unfolds.
The Broncos could conceivably go either way in addressing their quarterback situation, and whether they sign Cousins or lose that race and end up taking a passer at No. 5 will determine plenty about how the offseason plays out. But what happens if the Broncos can’t land Cousins? Do they still target a veteran? And if so, would any non-Cousins addition induce Denver to use its No. 5 pick on a non-quarterback?
One other passer might. The Broncos are intrigued by Case Keenum, Matt Miller of Bleacher Report notes. He adds that a Keenum addition would allow the team to select a player at another position at No. 5, so Keenum could be the Broncos’ second choice on the veteran market. They are expected to enter the Cousins sweepstakes.
Of course, the Vikings could still place the franchise tag on their primary 2017 starter and effectively take him off the market. They are open to doing so, and may be likely to take this route with one of last season’s biggest surprises. But if Keenum hits the market, the Broncos — who discussed a Keenum trade during the 2016 offseason, when his price was much lower — figure to be interested.
Keenum will not cost what Cousins would, but the sample size of proficiency is far less than what Cousins’ career has offered, so spending lower-end or midlevel franchise-quarterback money on Keenum would be a risk. Mike Klis of 9News noted recently Denver’s Cousins contingency plan was likely to be Keenum (if available) or a bridge player that would mentor the passer the team would be in line to select at 5.
The Broncos may well believe Keenum is good enough not to be viewed as a stopgap passer, which would take a team out of the mix for a quarterback at the top of the draft. But the Vikings may believe this as well and retain Keenum to make outside interest essentially moot.
Ummmm, I would think that Minnesota is interested in Keenum as well.
There #1 target is Cousins though
Kirk
Case
Teddy
Bradford
Idc who we need anyone other than what we have
Overrated.
Lmao great insight
Broncos are on a death spiral. Elway, good QB, idiot operations man. They getting old.
Next year or never.
“They getting old.” Love the irony, ‘American Educated’.
I think this would be perfect fit, save money not signing Cousins and I’d still draft a QB in the 2nd
Save what money? Hell get at least a Glennon or Osweiler contract.
Yeah nobody that signs Keenum will be able to do so for cheap
Agreed, but Keenum would be cheaper than Cousins.
Does Keenum have a strong enough arm to be accurate in the wind and cold? Denver’s unlike any other playing environment.
Is Chicago not the Windy City anymore? Does Chicago not get cold anymore?
Keenum plays for the Vikings. The last time I checked they were in Minnesota. His worst game (by QBR) was in the cold of Green Bay. For the one game he played in Chicago last season, the high that day was 81 degrees.
LMAO…
I don’t know why Denver is working so hard to avoid drafting a QB at #5. I know QBs are hit or miss, but unless you plan on getting 4-5 years out of Keenum (like they’re probably hoping they’d get out of Cousins if they get him) then I don’t see the harm in drafting a QB too. I suppose the draft is deep this year. Still, everything I read makes it sound like Denver is allergic to drafting a QB with that pick.
I’m sure that decision revolves around their locker room. The Broncos have quite a few veterans, and those guys want see themselves as a proven, veteran passer away from really contending.
If they just passed on pursuing one of the top free agent veteran QB’s, I’m betting it would cause an uproar and a divide in the locker room. The players seem to really want Cousins, and then to use the #5 pick on a player to fill another void on the roster…Possibly dropping back to #8 or #9 grabbing another pick or two, aND selecting Calvin Ridley..Using those other two picks to round out the roster around their veteran core.
Although, even with that being said, the Broncos are likely to pursue Cousins, and if they cannot get Cousins, then they’ll most likely draft a QB at number 5. Then, the Broncos would be forced to sign a veteran like Bradford to give either Rosen, Allen, Darnaud, or Mayfield a year or two, much like the Alex Smith and Patrick Mahomes situation in KC..
I think, ultimately, if he is still available, Rosen would be Elway’s #1 pick, but IF and ONLY IF he ends up losing out on Cousins..
Rosen, gets a bad rap, but he’s a highly intelligent kid. He has an excellent football IQ, and I think that high football IQ will remind Elway a bit of Peyton Manning. Not saying Rosen is Peyton at all, just that like Peyton, Rosen is a student of the game.. Like I said, if Cousins goes elsewhere, I think Elway will ultimately put his future in Rosen’s hands…Which, in my opinion, is the smartest choice, among the draft-eligible QB’s.
Rosen, unlike a couple of his other draft-eligible QB prospects, is an excellent passer from the pocket. He has very good instincts, and he is able to work well within a smaller pocket. He is one of the few QB’s that can make those around him look better than they really are.
He has the best overall arm in the draft as well. You’d be hard-pressed to ever see Rosen throw a bad ball, and that’s not only a testament to his arm, but it is largely due to his excellent footwork as well. Rosen’s footwork, allows his strong arm to make all the necessary, difficult, and professional throws. Now, that’s not to say, he is always pinpoint accurate, but more often than not, Rosen can and will fit his ball into some very tight windows. Although, unlike alot of other flamethrowers, with big arms, ala Kaepernick, Rosen throws a very catchable ball. He throws a great, tight spiral, and he tends to put his passes on a dime, allowing his targets to typically gain some yards after the catch.
What’s great about Rosen is the fact he knows how to sync up his upper and lower body when he’s making particular throws. He syncs up his footwork, with his arm to throw some quality fades, excellent deep balls, touch passes, and he’s able to fire one into a tight window, when he needs to thread the needle. This allows Rosen to often beat an opposing team’s coverage, and the fact he’s already adept at looking off defenders, to get his first read open, is very promising for his future success at the NFL level. Another advanced aspect of his game, that will help him successfully transition to the next level, is much like Tom Brady, Rosen also excels at timing routes/patterns, and when he is paired with a fundamentally sound WR/TE, they could immediately make a dangerous twosome. Not only that, but Rosen also has a leg up on his fellow rookies, because he has experience and a good deal of knowledge and success working from under center. UCLA ran a pro-style offense, so that will definitely help smooth over Rosen’s transition to the pro level
Overall, his natural instincts, his polished technique, his body control and awareness, his all-around, complete arm talent, his mature football IQ, his field vision, his timing, his ball placement and touch, and his exposure to an NFL offense, these are ALL the reasons I would draft Rosen over his fellow draft-eligible prospects. He’s stated he doesn’t want to go to Cleveland, and who in their right mind would?!?! lol..So, if I am the Giants, he would be my selection, with the #2 pick in the draft. Rosen has all the aforementioned talent and traits, that could very well set the Giants up for another run of prolonged success. Also, learning how to handle himself as a professional, and in the locker room from Eli Manning, Rosen could not place himself in a better position for success!! Plus, Rosen and OBJ, they could become one of the most dynamic QB-WR duos in the NFL, very quickly!! If the Giants don’t keep Eli for another year, and if they don’t take Rosen with their #2 pick, they are going to be making an extremely costly and colossal mistake!!
Jesus man could you shorten that up a little bit?
They can sign a QB to a 2 year deal, draft a non QB at 5, and let one of the FA ‘s win a Super Bowl with this defense before it flames out. And Chad Kelly will be their starter in 3 seasons.