NFL
Denver Broncos QB Drew Lock’s Future Outlook
After years of trying to find Peyton Manning's successor, John Elway has finally found his QB#1 in the Missouri gunslinger Drew Lock
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Denver Broncos GM John Elway’s added some offensive firepower to shape the franchise around his signal-caller of the future in Drew Lock. With Lock under center and some ridiculous depth at various skill positions, the Denver Broncos are constructed for future success. The X-factor to Denver’s 2020 season and beyond is whether Lock can develop into a promising passer or if he fails to turn potential into production. Below is an evaluation of Drew Lock’s future outlook after an impressive rookie campaign.
Drew Lock started the 2019 season on IR with a thumb injury, causing him to miss 13 games as a rookie. As the Vic Fangio and the Broncos reached a disappointing 3-8 record, Lock was declared the starter over Brandon Allen (1-2) with Joe Flacco on the IR, and the rest was history as the rookie went 4-1 in their final 5 games, only losing to the eventual Super Bowl champions.
After his hot start, Lock has gained a ridiculous amount of supporters since he took over as the Denver Broncos QB1. Lock’s confidence, knowledge, and sideline rapping has even allowed him to gain respect in the Broncos locker room according to 7x All-Pro Von Miller. The Missouri native’s promising potential has even led to an NFL Analyst considering him a dark horse MVP candidate.
Almost everyone seems to now be a fan of what the Missouri gunslinger brings to the field, but why was he slept on in the 2019 NFL draft? General Managers and Scouts might say a lot of teams didn’t consider Lock a good fit or that there was a drop off in talent between him and the Quarterbacks taken in the first round (Kyler Murray, Daniel Jones, and Dwayne Haskins), but a year later, it looks like only the ROY first overall pick deserves a higher future grade.
While Drew Lock was viewed as the fourth best QB coming out of college, he displayed all the tools and potential to be worthy of a first round pick. The Mizzou alum took the SEC by storm as he thrived against some of the best defenses in the country and finished top-5 in nearly every statistical passing category. Since Lock came from a high volume offense, gurus really tried to over evaluate the fine details in his game.
However, no one could deny Drew Lock has a true gunsling mentality as he loves to air the ball out with his rocket of a right arm. The lack of consistency in College caused him to fall, similar to the same reason why his now division-rival Patrick Mahomes fell to 10th overall. Nobody should have the same expectations around Lock as KC has for Mahomes, but he could challenge Mahomes over the next decade as the Broncos re-emerge as a contender in the West.
After a promising rookie season, Lock enters 2020 with a new level of confidence, considering Flacco is now in New York and the Broncos didn’t go out and add a starting-caliber QB this offseason. Then Denver GM John Elway doubled down on his franchise Quarterback by drafting the best WR in the draft, Jerry Jeudy from Alabama with the 15th pick. If Lock’s future outlook wasn’t very great before, it’s as bright as ever now with Jeudy bringing a rare combination of athleticism, route running, agility, and playmaking to the Broncos offense.
Elway also drafted the shifty K.J. Hamler out of Penn State and Drew Lock’s former Missouri TE Albert Okwuegbunam, who ran a 4.49 40-time at the combine (fastest of all Tight Ends in the 2020 Draft). The Broncos addition of RB Melvin Gordon will make an already dynamic backfield alongside Phillip Lindsay nearly unstoppable. Most importantly, with Courtland Sutton already showing signs of dominance, Drew Lock has weapons galore, and Elway will likely look to keep them in the fold beyond just their rookie contracts.
Drew Lock can be somewhat of a mobile threat as well, as he ran a 4.69 40yd dash at the combine. Lock is extremely difficult to sack due to his pocket awareness, quick reads, and his ability to make improv decisions. Once the Offensive Line develops their continuity, Lock will have the keys to one of the best potential offenses in the AFC.
Why didn’t anyone tell me Drew Lock was good? pic.twitter.com/kJwK1rbxz4
— CrockTIME (@eric_crocker) June 10, 2020
For a primer on what the colors mean, click here. For DEN’s full Team Outlook, click here
Denver’s 2019 Opening Day starting QB Joe Flacco was released and signed with the Jets to backup Sam Darnold this year. With a backup QB in need, Denver signed Jeff Driskel to a 2y/$5M contract after he started three games with the Lions in 2019 (0-3). Despite Driskel not winning a game, he provided a spark for Detroit with pure athleticism and the ability to run the read option.
If the former Louisiana Tech star gets his name called in 2020, don’t expect Pat Shurmur to allow Driskel to sit back and let it fly like Lock. Shurmur will have to alter his playbook to confuse the defense with motions (smoke and mirrors) and feature a heavy dose of arguably the best backfield trios in the NFL (Melvin Gordon, Phillip Lindsey and Royce Freeman).
However, Driskel’s injury history has to be a concern for a team with Riley Neal and Brett Rypien as their only other quarterbacks on the roster. Like Lock, Driskel also started the 2019 season on the IR (hamstring injury) with the Cincinnati Bengals but was given an injury settlement as Ryan Finley won the backup role. Unfortunately later that season, Driskel finished the year on IR with another hamstring injury due to his dual threat nature.
With a career 1-7 record as a NFL starter, the former sixth round pick could be on a short leash despite his new contract. When looking at Driskel’s skillset, Denver’s lack of depth, and inexperience at the QB position, a veteran addition like Colin Kaepernick or Cam Newton would be a great upgrade over him.
Even with Hall of Fame Quarterback John Elway running the show, the Denver Broncos have not been able to draft or sign a franchise QB since his retirement in 1999. Besides when an elder Peyton Manning decided to end his career in Denver, the Broncos list of Quarterbacks over the past decade consists of Kyle Orton, Tim Tebow, Brock Osweiler, Trevor Siemian, Paxton Lynch, Case Keenum, Brandon Allen, and current savior Drew Lock.
Elway’s determined to get this pick right, as he’s finally invested in adding young, elite weapons to grow alongside his 23-year-old QB. In addition to Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton, a duo that could soon become a contender for the top tandem in the league, K.J. Hamler can become an impact player from the slot, and Noah Fant has a bright future outlook himself at TE as Denver’s only draft pick taken before Lock last year, who showed some promise of his own. The talent is there in the backfield too with a trio that can be viewed as good as any.
Lock has to learn a new offensive system this offseason after rookie NFL OC Rick Scangarello was replaced by Pat Shurmur. The Giants Head Coach didn’t succeed much during his two years in New York, but has an impressive resume as an OC as he takes over offensive play-calling in the Mile High city this year. If he and Vic Fangio can put the stellar Sophomore in a position to succeed, Lock will have everything he needs to become Denver’s first young franchise QB since Elway.
BRONCOS QB OUTLOOK: B+
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