Case Keenum is going to start the season as the Broncos’ starting quarterback, but everything behind him is up for grabs in Denver.
You have to believe it really bothers John Elway not to have one of the strongest quarterback rooms in the NFL. During his playing days, the Denver Broncos knew they’d get great play from the game’s most important position. As it currently stands, Denver has a ton of uncertainty at the quarterback position.
Fortunately for Elway and company, they do appear to have a certain starter for Week 1. Case Keenum isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but he’s at least an adequate NFL starter. He isn’t going to conjure up images of Elway in the Mile High City, but he’s got enough arm strength and intelligence to make some plays.
After him, things start to unravel quickly. Heading into the 2018 season, the Broncos hoped that Paxton Lynch could take a step forward and claim the backup position. Denver spent a first-round pick on the former Memphis signal-caller back in 2016. The organization believed he would eventually emerge as its quarterback of the future.
Those plans have changed significantly. Lynch hasn’t managed to accomplish anything of note at the professional level. This week, the coaching staff finally made the move to drop him to No. 3 on the depth chart. That puts 2017 seventh-round selection Chad Kelly in line to take over for Keenum in case of injury or ineffectiveness. That’s a significant personal accomplishment for Kelly, but it’s not good news for anyone else in the Broncos organization.
Elway isn’t make any secret of the fact that change might be coming at the position. Kelly has the backup spot for now, but Elway is already telling reporters that a change might be on the horizon. He claims the evaluation process of Kelly and the rest of the team’s quarterback options is “still going on.”
Those comments should serve to put both Lynch and Kelly on notice. The higher-ups in Denver are not convinced they have a quarterback on the roster capable of winning NFL games behind Keenum. Look for the Broncos to examine a number of different options at the position before the regular season begins. A trade or free agent acquisition is definitely under consideration. Elway isn’t going to stop tinkering with his group of quarterbacks until he’s confident the right backup for Keenum is on the roster.