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So there has been some discussion across several threads about the developing QB vs vet QB philosophy. The Broncos have been historically poor at drafting QBs, but there is one QB in particular who was a rookie developmental QB who was not drafted by the Broncos. He certainly cannot be considered a vet FA acquisition as he was acquired as a rookie and was the one and only rookie QB that received commitment from the franchise. Let's chat about Bronco QBs and see if their poor drafting is just because of "bad luck" or if it's from bad decision making and overall lack of commitment. Same goes for their vet QB acquisitions. Let's discuss how truly successful that has been. Let's just say I think the one QB I mentioned skews the narrative because he was not drafted by the Broncos.
I'll just make some general observations and let y'all run with it. I'm focussing on 1977 until now since 77 marks their breakthrough into relevance with their first SB appearance. Also, most of us did not witness the 60's, so it's hard to debate that - especially since they were a losing franchise most of that time. I'm also focussing on guys who were actual starters, I'm not going to mention guys who had zero impact or were never meant to start.
The Broncos have drafted 3 QBs in the first round: Cutler, Tebow, Lynch. Cutler showed some promise under Shanahan and probably would have developed much better under him. Say what you will about Cutler, but he did make it to an NFCC game and was a solid career starter. He was only a starter here for 2 years until McD traded him away for Orton (SMH). Tebow was a surprise 1st round pick by McD. That was a wild ride and he was very raw, but had a memorable playoff win. He started 1 year before traded in favor of Manning. Paxton Lynch was a stupid pick. So, of the 3 guys they've picked in the 1st round, none of them were afforded any commitment to their development. Cutler could have been developed quite well if Shanny wasn't fired and still had a decent career. Tebow had some potential, but he was a very raw passer and needed sheer commitment for that to work out and the Manning acquisition negated his value. He was also probably drafted a bit too high. Paxton Lynch was a terrible pick, period. IMO, the organization completely botched their first round efforts. Cutler had serious potential and was shipped out by McD, Tebow was too raw and was probably drafted too early, Lynch was just a botched pick.
They have drafted 3 guys in the 2nd round: Griese, Osweiler, Lock. Griese was actually decent under Shanny and had a pretty good QBR under him. He wasn't dynamic, so he was let go to FA and they brought in Plummer. Os was supposed to develop under Manning and played a integral part in the 2015 SB run. He looked pretty good under Kubiak, but they let him go in FA. Lock showed promise under Scangs, but did not play well in Shurmur's offense, so they acquired Bridgewater and traded him as part of the king's ransom for Wilson. Again, they had guys who probably would have developed better had they committed. Os looked pretty good in 2015 and waiting until it was too late to sign him led to the stupid Lynch pick. Lock was raw, but probably would have developed way better had they stuck with a ball control offense. Again, I argue the organization botched 2 of these and had an ok run with Griese.
The only late round pick worth mentioning is Siemian. He was a 7th rounder and probably overachieved considering his draft status. He played decently and I liked him, but he was let go in favor of Keenum.
The Broncos have acquired 8 VET QBs via FA or trade: Morton, Plummer, Orton, Manning, Keenum, Flacco, Bridgewater, Wilson. Morton made it to a SB, Plummer was decent and made it to an AFCC game. Manning was great. The rest of them have been somewhere between meh and suck.
The Broncos traded for one rookie first overall pick: Elway. Yeah, he wasn't drafted by the Broncos, but he was traded for right after the draft and spent the entire offseason here as a rookie. He then went on to a hall of fame career. He spent his entire career here as a Bronco and is the one and only young QB the franchise has ever committed to development. He threw 14 picks to 7 TDs in his rookie season, but thankfully the organization committed to him and powered through the growing pains.
So seriously, is the vet QB philosophy so great? Morton in the 70s, Plummer and Manning in recent memory. They've only drafted 3 guys in the 1st, none of them being in the top ten and one of them being a horrible pick. The other two they gave up on right away. I personally think that the issue is the total lack of commitment to young QBs. The only young QB they ever committed to was Elway. Honestly, I think the current organization probably would have given up on him after his rookie season.
The problem with this organization and young QBs is they don't really try. They put in a half hearted effort at best and refuse to commit.
Yes, they've won a SB with one vet FA signing. Even though Elway wasn't drafted, he's still the only rookie QB they've ever afforded any commitment to.
That's my take. What say you?
I'll just make some general observations and let y'all run with it. I'm focussing on 1977 until now since 77 marks their breakthrough into relevance with their first SB appearance. Also, most of us did not witness the 60's, so it's hard to debate that - especially since they were a losing franchise most of that time. I'm also focussing on guys who were actual starters, I'm not going to mention guys who had zero impact or were never meant to start.
The Broncos have drafted 3 QBs in the first round: Cutler, Tebow, Lynch. Cutler showed some promise under Shanahan and probably would have developed much better under him. Say what you will about Cutler, but he did make it to an NFCC game and was a solid career starter. He was only a starter here for 2 years until McD traded him away for Orton (SMH). Tebow was a surprise 1st round pick by McD. That was a wild ride and he was very raw, but had a memorable playoff win. He started 1 year before traded in favor of Manning. Paxton Lynch was a stupid pick. So, of the 3 guys they've picked in the 1st round, none of them were afforded any commitment to their development. Cutler could have been developed quite well if Shanny wasn't fired and still had a decent career. Tebow had some potential, but he was a very raw passer and needed sheer commitment for that to work out and the Manning acquisition negated his value. He was also probably drafted a bit too high. Paxton Lynch was a terrible pick, period. IMO, the organization completely botched their first round efforts. Cutler had serious potential and was shipped out by McD, Tebow was too raw and was probably drafted too early, Lynch was just a botched pick.
They have drafted 3 guys in the 2nd round: Griese, Osweiler, Lock. Griese was actually decent under Shanny and had a pretty good QBR under him. He wasn't dynamic, so he was let go to FA and they brought in Plummer. Os was supposed to develop under Manning and played a integral part in the 2015 SB run. He looked pretty good under Kubiak, but they let him go in FA. Lock showed promise under Scangs, but did not play well in Shurmur's offense, so they acquired Bridgewater and traded him as part of the king's ransom for Wilson. Again, they had guys who probably would have developed better had they committed. Os looked pretty good in 2015 and waiting until it was too late to sign him led to the stupid Lynch pick. Lock was raw, but probably would have developed way better had they stuck with a ball control offense. Again, I argue the organization botched 2 of these and had an ok run with Griese.
The only late round pick worth mentioning is Siemian. He was a 7th rounder and probably overachieved considering his draft status. He played decently and I liked him, but he was let go in favor of Keenum.
The Broncos have acquired 8 VET QBs via FA or trade: Morton, Plummer, Orton, Manning, Keenum, Flacco, Bridgewater, Wilson. Morton made it to a SB, Plummer was decent and made it to an AFCC game. Manning was great. The rest of them have been somewhere between meh and suck.
The Broncos traded for one rookie first overall pick: Elway. Yeah, he wasn't drafted by the Broncos, but he was traded for right after the draft and spent the entire offseason here as a rookie. He then went on to a hall of fame career. He spent his entire career here as a Bronco and is the one and only young QB the franchise has ever committed to development. He threw 14 picks to 7 TDs in his rookie season, but thankfully the organization committed to him and powered through the growing pains.
So seriously, is the vet QB philosophy so great? Morton in the 70s, Plummer and Manning in recent memory. They've only drafted 3 guys in the 1st, none of them being in the top ten and one of them being a horrible pick. The other two they gave up on right away. I personally think that the issue is the total lack of commitment to young QBs. The only young QB they ever committed to was Elway. Honestly, I think the current organization probably would have given up on him after his rookie season.
The problem with this organization and young QBs is they don't really try. They put in a half hearted effort at best and refuse to commit.
Yes, they've won a SB with one vet FA signing. Even though Elway wasn't drafted, he's still the only rookie QB they've ever afforded any commitment to.
That's my take. What say you?
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