Russell Wilson is probably headed out, leaving the Denver Broncos with a major quarterback void. The Broncos need to find a reliable starting quarterback, and although all indications go to the 2024 NFL Draft, Sean Payton may carry on the team’s recent success in acquiring veterans through trades or free agency.
As the 2024 offseason approached, Jimmy Garoppolo of the Las Vegas Raiders was one potential contender. However, with the experienced quarterback receiving a two-game suspension from the NFL, Broncos Country can comfortably cross Garoppolo off the roster.
For the Raiders (cry us a river, eh?) that’s a regrettable development as it lowers Garoppolo’s trade market value. Without a doubt, the Raiders were hoping to trade him after placing him on the bench in favour of rookie Aidan O’Connell the previous season.
Even though it was the first game of the season and the Raiders defeated the Broncos, Garoppolo’s three victories as Vegas’ starting quarterback were scarce. In the games he started the previous season, he finished 3-3 while passing for 1,205 yards, seven touchdowns, and nine interceptions.
Following Josh McDaniels’ dismissal, Garoppolo was benched by the Raiders. It’s unknown if Antonio Pierce, the team’s temporary head coach at the time, made the choice or if it was organisational in nature. In any case, O’Connell intervened and didn’t turn back.
With his 33rd season approaching, it’s obvious that Garoppolo’s value in the NFL has dropped. The league didn’t seem to think he could succeed outside of a Kyle Shanahan scheme, but McDaniels, a member of the New England organisation that selected Garoppolo in the second round of the 2014 draft, was one person who could give it some hope.
Since Peyton Manning’s retirement in 2016, the Broncos have selected two quarterbacks: Drew Lock in the second round and Paxton Lynch in the first. Though, in retrospect, it’s unclear if each quarterback had the complete trust and support of the team at the time, both quarterbacks failed to take off in Denver.
Following Manning, the Broncos have relied on seasoned stand-in quarterbacks like as Case Keenum, Joe Flacco, Teddy Bridgewater, and even Russell Wilson. The squad deluded themselves for far too long into believing that a single mediocre quarterback could bring them another championship.
However, Payton is a new pair of eyes, and he’s astute enough to realise that if you carry on doing things the same way, you’ll essentially keep getting what you’ve always had. The Broncos are in a good position to select one of the best quarterback prospects in the class this year, with the No. 12 overall choice. However, we cannot rule out the chance that the team will want to acquire a veteran.
