The Denver Broncos are 0-2 and now will be without starting quarterback Drew Lock for anywhere between two and six weeks, with all signs pointing to Lock's absence lasting closer to a month. But in a wide-open AFC West, where the Los Angeles Chargers are 1-1 and undergoing their own QB transition and the Las Vegas Raiders have managed to keep pace with the Kansas City Chiefs, it's imperative the Broncos identify short-term reinforcements under center. No QB added off the street is going to give Denver anything close to Lock's upside, let alone his understanding of the offense, but a veteran could help soften the blow until the real QB1 returns.
With that in mind, here are four options the Broncos would be wise to consider as they look to weather at least a handful of games without their promising young signal-caller:
Set to visit the Broncos on Tuesday, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the 28-year-old free agent would be the safest bet as an instant No. 2 and/or spot starter. We know his ceiling by now, and interceptions often accompany his starts, but he's easily the most talented arm on the market at this point. After a year spent learning under Sean McVay as Jared Goff's backup in 2019, Bortles is experienced enough to come in and replace Jeff Driskel as the temporary No. 1 as soon as Week 4, and Denver's weapons (Melvin Gordon, Noah Fant, etc.) would certainly help the transition.
Brandon Allen
Another vet who has history with both the Jaguars and Rams, Allen wouldn't necessarily be an upgrade over Driskel, who actually performed well considering the circumstances against Pittsburgh in Week 2. He does, however, have recent experience on Vic Fangio's team, starting three games in place of Joe Flacco during the 2019 season. The upside with Allen, who's eligible to be signed off the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad, isn't crazy, but he'd at least offer more familiarity at QB.
Fangio has directly addressed speculation of this possibility, telling reporters Monday that the free agent's "name hasn't come up" in early QB talks with general manager John Elway. And that's unlikely to change, even though Kaepernick has claimed publicly he's still seeking a return to the NFL. Still, you could do a whole lot worse when it comes to quick-fix ideas at QB, where Kaepernick would at least bring some dual-threat creativity to an offense now missing several key pieces. The notable connection, of course, is the fact Elway once tried to trade for Kaepernick while he was still with the San Francisco 49ers.
Another old friend, the 28-year-old Siemian spent three years in Denver from 2015-2017, starting 24 games during that time. He was rarely more than average as the Broncos' No. 1 signal-caller but still flashed enough to warrant two years of opportunities, not to mention later backup jobs with the Minnesota Vikings and New York Jets. Now on the Tennessee Titans' practice squad, he'd be a rock-solid fallback option if Bortles doesn't work out -- someone who could step in, immediately compete for starting reps and then slide back into a No. 2 role upon Lock's return.
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September 22, 2020 at 09:02PM
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Blake Bortles set to visit Broncos: Four QB options for Denver while Drew Lock is sidelined - CBSSports.com
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