Locked On Broncos - Daily Podcast On The Denver Broncos - Denver Broncos Solved QB Carousel, What's Next For Bo Nix and Sean Payton?

Starting point is 00:00:00 The Denver Broncos answered the biggest question facing the franchise in the last nine years. Who's the franchise core act? We know Bo Nix is that guy, but now that he is in that position as the franchise quarterback, what does it look like behind him in terms of his backup? We'll highlight that much more here on today's episode, Locked on Broncos. You are Locked on Broncos, your daily Denver Broncos podcast, part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. Broncos Country, what's happening?

Starting point is 00:00:34 Welcome into another episode. Lockdown Broncos, your daily Denver Broncos podcast, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network where you know it is your team every day. If you want daily Broncos news content coverage analysis and more when there's things happening in the off season, when there's things that aren't necessarily happening in the off season, but you want fresh conversation. This is the place to be. So becoming every dayer and a first listener, if you haven't done so already, wherever you

Starting point is 00:00:56 get your podcasts or available on YouTube. I'm Cody Roarck. Bronco's Beat Reporter from Ohio Sports. Join, as always by Sarah Bedinger, site expert over there at predominantly orange.com. And look, Broncos country, here's what we got in store for you here on today's episode of the show. We're going to wrap things up by talking about how do the Broncos address the quarterback position behind Bo Nix in the offseason? Notice how I said behind Bo Nix versus how do they address the quarterback position. It's a nice feeling to be able to have that conversation.

Starting point is 00:01:22 We'll also talk about who will be the backup for Bo Nix in 2025 for Sean Payton and there's Broncos offense. And more important, we're going to kick things off by recapping the year. What did the Broncos learn? They learned that Bo Nix was the franchise guy. You're going to get that on today's episode of the show here. Brought to you by friends over there at GameTime. Download the GameTime app, create an account, use code, locked on NFL for $20 off your first purchase.

Starting point is 00:01:44 Sarah, the carousel has finally stopped, my friend. We don't longer have to see that doomed graphic when you're watching a game. When we look at this overview for the quarterback position in 2024, really coming into the season, the conversation was, can the Broncos figure out if Bonix can be the franchise guy? Well, we got that question answered, and he is that guy. The Broncos believe that he is that guy.

Starting point is 00:02:07 And the fan base, they believe he's that guy as well. So that question has been answered. One of the best rookie years for a quarterback in NFL history. I mean, you look back, Justin Herbert's 31 passing touchdowns. A rookie record was challenged by Bo Nix at 29, even though Boe didn't throw his first touchdown until week four against the New York Jets. And so there was a lot to be positive about over the course of this. rookie season and he played through the transverse fractures in his back. And obviously he was the

Starting point is 00:02:41 offense for the team. As you and I have talked about previously, like Bo Nix, he was the leading rusher in one third of this team's games. He put the offense on his shoulders in moments, big moments when needed, like the game against Kansas City. I know it didn't go Denver's way in Kansas City. But Bo Nix, the way that he was able to put the team on his back, you talk about big time drives. Like, again, Los Angeles in Los Angeles. I know it didn't, again, it didn't turn out the way Denver wanted to, but I mean, Bo Nix did his part. In that game, he did his part to get them on 11-point lead into the second half. And then Cincinnati, just responding to every time Joe Burrow and the Bengals would

Starting point is 00:03:20 score, like, how frustrating was that for Cincinnati's defense? And Cody, look, we know that the Broncos played a huge spoiler role for a number of teams. Like the Jets, I think you looked at that game against Denver as man we've got a clean house so i think bow nix did his part to prove like in a variety of ways on the field off the field he's the face of this franchise going forward and that's the number one thing you wanted to figure out in 2024 and i think everything else that transpired here for the bronco is a 10 and 7 record the first post season appearance since 2015 those are just like little sprinkles on top of the ice cream at this point here but now you have security because you and I did an episode yesterday really highlighting what the Broncos offense and defense, what they could have learned from the NFL divisional playoffs over the weekend.

Starting point is 00:04:08 And one of the biggest things that we highlighted was that luckily Denver's already got this one. Answered is you have to obviously have a quarterback first and foremost. And you know, you have to have a running back. You have to have, you know, some dogs in the past and game. So on and so forth here. But the thing that I think we saw just for Bo was his consistent level of growth on a week to week basis. And all the questions that we had as to can he become the guy? Can he showcase that he's a franchise quarterback?

Starting point is 00:04:34 He answered that relatively quickly. Look, I think the first two weeks of the season were rough, but I think it was really kind of after that Atlanta Falcons game, or even after, I think mainly the Kansas City Chiefs game where they lost in the block field goal, where you and I sat here as dejected and heartbroken for the Broncos country over the end result of that game. We sat in and said, you know what?

Starting point is 00:04:55 The Broncos, they have the guy that can face off against Mahomes and potentially win. Like they've got a guy who can do just that. The sky is the limit, the potential, everything's there. That answered right there that he is going to be their franchise quarterback. And then obviously he had some games down the stretch where it's like, yep, he's the guy. And look, everyone believes that too. Even the national media people believe that.

Starting point is 00:05:15 Some of the more logical level-headed voices, not these little TikTok dancing dudes who don't know football. Don't take their word for it. Take the people who don't have to rely on hot takes or click bait in order to have good conversation about a player and a prospect. That's, I think, one thing that we learned about that. For me, also looking back at the quarterback room in 2024, I felt it was very interesting, especially in training camp, you and I were sitting here wondering who's going to win the backup quarterback job?

Starting point is 00:05:44 Like how many quarterbacks of the Broncos going to keep on their active roster? They ended up keeping three and they kept Jarrett Stead him. They kept Zach Wilson on the 53, which I found to be interesting because maybe you could have made an argument for another player at another position to maybe take up one of those spaces, but I felt like Denver actually maneuvered their practice squad moves pretty well. They were able to put some guys in there and rotate them in out of the 53 and then off and so on and so forth, clear waivers. They were able to do that.

Starting point is 00:06:11 So that was, I think, a testament to maybe the coaching staff and obviously the front office of being able to smartly maneuver and build this roster. But now I think it really is like, all right, what did we learn about the Broncos QB position behind Bow Nix in 2024? Well, Sare, luckily, for the first time in a long time. time the Broncos only had to play one quarterback all season long. How long has it been since we've been able to actually say something like that here on the show? I mean, I don't think we've ever said that here on the show, have we?

Starting point is 00:06:40 I mean, it's been since 2014. I think Peyton Manning played every game that season. But other than that, you've had multiple different guys playing maybe Trevor Simeon in 2016. I don't remember if anybody else played that year. No, but I don't know. It was nothing like what we saw from Boe, though. No, it was absolutely nothing. I mean, Broncos country, for reality's sake here, Cody, we've never had any young quarterback play like this.

Starting point is 00:07:05 Like I, like I said, it was a historically good rookie quarterback season. But as far as Denver Broncos history, like the best rookie year for a Denver Broncos quarterback as a rookie ever. So I think that there's something to be said for that. And for the backup position, what we know about Sean Payton is like his philosophy is as what he said about Zach Wilson. and like we want to make you millions. And that benefits everybody. It benefits the quarterback. It benefits your team because you might get compensatory picks or somebody

Starting point is 00:07:36 might want to trade for your guy. And you raise the floor behind your quarterback in the event that, as we've said before, I think in 2023, I think like 60 some odd quarterbacks played. You and I talked about that this past off season. It's a huge deal to have an elevated, you know, player in your, look at the Miami Dolphins. Their season was done for early in the year because Tua got injured, you have to have a backup who can play. And ideally, I think you would have somebody who can you, you want to say, hey, I want to go make this guy millions.

Starting point is 00:08:08 Like he's got upside. Like Teddy Bridgewater made $63 million after playing for Sean Payton. James Winston made a bunch of money after playing for Sean Peyton. And I think that philosophy really helps because what did Sean Payton say when they were evaluating quarterbacks for the draft? He's like, basically, we feel like we can do this better than most teams, if not everybody else, right? And so because of that, I think that extends into your backup spot where you want to have somebody that's worth developing, somebody who can play and start extended periods if need be and marrying that combination, which leads to those reclamation project types of guys.

Starting point is 00:08:46 Well, and I think so much of a two is not only just making sure you have the right QB, but I also think you have to have the right coaching staff. look, Sean Payton, going back to that quote, to be able to say that. And now it's like, look what Bo Nix was able to do. It's like, all right, Sean's got some bragging rights in terms of that because they are good at being able to do just that. They're able to see something in players that maybe not a lot of people did. Like you look at every, you know, NFL draft expert or the TikTokers are like, oh yeah, Bo Nix didn't even have a first round grade.

Starting point is 00:09:16 All this stuff. And it's like Sean Payton said, that stuff didn't matter us. We don't care about that. We care about what we see and what we. we know and how we can evaluate players, which goes to show coaches for the most part. And look, every year, there's always teams that maybe reach. You look at, I think you go back to Hard Knoxis off seats. The New York Giants look absolutely silly.

Starting point is 00:09:35 The GM does for, he's got a son who's a kid. And probably it was like, hey, trade up and go get Jaden Daniels. And he's like, nah, like we're in the business of winning. Like we want to win games. It's like, dang, bro, that's going to live in infamy forever at this point. So maybe Joe Shane's son should probably make the decisions there for the New York Giants going forward. But everybody that wrote off Bo Nix did like Sean Payton's like, we don't care what everybody else had to say about him. We saw this guy.

Starting point is 00:10:03 We saw the workouts. We threw everything at him and he handled it well. I think having Davis Webb as a QB coach, I think that was a very underrated aspect of it. And so if Davis Webb, who's gotten some interviews for some coordinator jobs, and I even think he had a head coaching interview, if I'm not mistaken with the New Orleans Saints, if he were somehow leave. That would definitely, I think, who do you replace him with? Like, that would be a very big question here for the Broncos QB position room going forward here. And also for Bo Nix. He's now you're bringing in a new coach.

Starting point is 00:10:30 What does that look like? I'd be very curious to see how that maybe transpires here. But all that to be said here, as we look at the QB position now going forward, 2024, the QB position was a bright spot in Denver, which has not been said for a very, very long time in this franchise. But now the question would jump to who will be. be the backup here for Bo Nix in 2025. Could it be a Zach Wilson or Gersteadum or could Sean Peyton maybe reunite with one of his former quarterbacks that he had to be the backup behind

Starting point is 00:11:01 the Broncos franchise QB? We'll take a look at that and much more here on today's episode, Lockdown Broncos. Today's Lockdown Broncos podcast is brought to by our friends over there at the Game Time app. And I love going to live events, whether it's sports, music, theater, or comedy. One of my favorite memories, me and my fiancee this past week, we went and saw an avalanche game and they won. She's a New York Rangers fan. I'm an Aves fan. I don't know too much about hockey,

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Starting point is 00:12:09 The biggest question mark at the quarterback position for the Denver Broncos in 2025 is thankfully got nothing to do with the starting lineup, but the backup position, which we know is important. It's got to be discussed because you know what, Broncos Country? There's two free agents at that position in Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson. Can the Broncos bring one or both or either of those guys back? We're going to discuss that on today's episode. And if they don't, hey, who could they bring in? So Broncos Country, if you haven't already done so, hit subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts on YouTube and things like that.

Starting point is 00:12:42 Join the discussion with us. We appreciate every single one of you that makes us part of your day every single day, especially those of you that you throw us on in the car on your way to work while you're working out. You've got us in your algorithm. We appreciate you and much love from Cody and I to you. And as we continue this offseason look at the quarterback position, Cody, it's really interesting to me because I kind of feel like the Broncos have the ideal backup quarterback already on, you know, well, he was under contract this past year.

Starting point is 00:13:15 But the ideal guy that you would want to have as Bo Nix is number two, You and I were chatting about this. I feel like it's Zach Wilson. Now, do you agree with that? And why? Because I feel like Zach has all the traits and everything that you would look for in a high-end backup who's got experience. I could play behind Bo Nix if need be.

Starting point is 00:13:36 Yeah, look, and I think what he was able to do it. And his time in New York was very up and down. You saw the flashes and you saw the low moments there. And New York was not a place as we've seen, the revolving door of coaches. we've seen the culture that was there at the New York Jets, how somehow players leave the Jets, coaches leave the Jets, they go on to have success elsewhere.

Starting point is 00:13:55 So that to me speaks to a little bit of it being an environmental issue so far for a franchise like New York. But certainly I think we saw a difference in Zach Wilson as the preseason came along. Certainly he looked more confident. And just even talking to him a few times in the locker room this year, he just says he enjoys the lockerer, he's got great relationship with Bo Nix,

Starting point is 00:14:14 with Jared Stedham, with Davis Webb. And he's in a position where, where I think this is probably going to be the most important thing when we talk about the backup quarterback job here. You mentioned the storylines about like Tuwa and his injury. We've seen it countless times in the last handful of years. Heck, even with Denver, even in 2023 when they benched Russell Wilson and Jared Stidham came in, the play style between those two guys was drastically different in today's NFL.

Starting point is 00:14:40 And I even think, too, we look at maybe Jaden Daniels. He's got a backup in Marcus Mariotto who can do those things. I think he does well, right? He can be the guy that does a read option. He keeps it and can use his legs while also hitting short to intermediate stuff. I don't know if Mario can hit the deep stuff at a consistent rate the way that Jaden Daniels can in terms of accuracy and placement. But he's a backup quarterback that kind of fits the mold of your starter in a sense, right? You look at Lamar Jackson.

Starting point is 00:15:07 I don't think there's anybody that can ever simulate what Lamar Jackson can do. Like if Lamar were to go down with an injury, who is the guy that's going to step up? They had Snoopuntly who did it. And he was obviously playing it. the level in which Lamar was, but he's got similar things where he can run the offense the same way. Denver needs a backup quarterback that can do the things that Bo Nick can, right? Like, Bo's obviously got a bigger arm than most people had thought that a lot of opponents had said. Bo's got the mobility, the athleticism.

Starting point is 00:15:36 Zach Wilson got a powerful arm. He's got the mobility. He's got the athleticism to do it. Whereas I look at Jerr-Sidum, not necessarily as athletic as Bo or as Zach in terms of being able to use his legs when needed. doesn't have necessarily the biggest arm is more of that, hey, the guy that's going to try to methodically get you down the field with some short intermediate passes,

Starting point is 00:15:54 maybe a shot here or there. Overall, if you're going to have a backup quarterback, he needs to be a similar trait style to your starting quarterback because if your starter goes down, you can't change the foundation of the offense just because of that, right? And that, I think, is the dilemma that teams and coaches have when it comes to backup QBs because it is hard in today's game to find almost an exact trait replica

Starting point is 00:16:17 of the guy that you have. Yeah, especially because if you have a quarterback that can run the ball well, it's impossible for you to bring in, let's say you're Mitch Trubisky for the Buffalo Bills, right? It's impossible for you as Buffalo to be like, look, this guy presents the exact same level of threat as Josh Allen, as a runner, you know, and so it just changes the whole dynamic of your offense.

Starting point is 00:16:41 And the Broncos, I think they understand that. That's the great thing is that I think they get it that we need to have a high-end backup, like Sean Payton has pretty historically always had a pretty high-end backup, Cody, at least within the last 10 years. I mean, you look at his acquisition of Teddy Bridgewater, you know, James Winston, those types of guys in New Orleans and even kind of the failsafe of Taysom Hill where, look, Sean Payton is that type of guy that he's like,

Starting point is 00:17:07 if we need to, like, I can run a completely different offense. It's not just that our offense is going to be hindered because of how different this quarterback is, but now you're going to have to plan. for a completely different style of offense. And he's proven that he's capable of doing that with Taysam Hill. So kind of an interesting factor and a wrinkle that Sean and his coaching staffs through the years have added into the mix. But I'm with you.

Starting point is 00:17:32 I think that it has to be somebody similar in terms of play style. And in this offense in particular, man, the quick passing game, that kind of thing is an area where a backup quarterback could come in and potentially thrive as opposed to, like we saw in the last game of the year against Kansas City, like where Carson went, it's like, I mean, the Broncos just dominated those guys. I feel like Denver has a situation where the offense is such that a backup quarterback could come in and reasonably be expected to have a measure of success if they need to play for any sort of extended period of time, which is why I would prioritize bringing Zach Wilson back. Yeah, no, and I agree. I think Zach Wilson right now,

Starting point is 00:18:13 if I had to sit here today and make a claim, I feel like Zach Wilson would probably be the best overall fit here for what Sean Payton wants to do in the event behind Bo Nix. And look, now, here's the benefit that you get at that, right? And like, you know, Sean Payton said, hey, we want to make you millions. Well, that's probably that could happen here in Denver. You can make millions. I don't know what the quarterback market's going to look like for backups, though I think that over the last couple of years, it's shown to be very fruitful in a sense.

Starting point is 00:18:37 What was Jared Stidham's original? Do you remember at the top of your head? Two years, 10 million. Two years, 10 million. You're telling me you can't give that to a Zach Wilson at this point. two years, 10 million. Now he's had a whole entire year in the system where he was this pretty much, like when you're trying to prepare for, you know,

Starting point is 00:18:54 I think a team like the Buffalo Bills, the guy who represented that in terms of like when you're practicing against it, it was Zach Wilson for the Broncos defense. He's athletic. He's got the big arm. And look, he can move quick. And he's a little bit big. Like he's deceptively big and somewhat deceptively hard to bring down.

Starting point is 00:19:11 To me, make your millions there with a guy who already knows your system versus you having to go out. in the free agency market. And going on, Brigh, though teams do this every year, but why make it harder for yourself and your coaching staff when you already have a guy who knows how you like things done, the process and everything else, the cadence of the snap count? Why go out and do that when you have that guy in your roster and a guy who maybe fits

Starting point is 00:19:33 some of the traits that Bo Nix has that if something were to happen to Bo, you can call in on Zach Wilson and he can do some of those things that Bo can in a sense. And look, not saying that he would be able to do it better or just as good as Bo, but when you look at play style, man, I tell you what, it kind of matches up between these two guys here. Yeah, and I think that for Zach, I think him and his family love the fact that he's in Denver, right? I mean, I don't know them personally or anything like that,

Starting point is 00:20:00 but being from Utah, it's the ideal landing spot more likely than not. I'm sure back in 2021, if they would have had their choice back then, I'm sure he would have gone to Denver in the draft. but I know it's it's not just a one track mind and free agency. There's other guys. You know, you and I were talking about this before the show too. Like,

Starting point is 00:20:21 who could the Broncos realistically add? Like if they want to go after a guy with a connection to Sean Peyton, like Teddy Bridgewater, if he's still wanting to play, does he want to come back to Denver? I doubt it, but you never know. You could always bring Jared Stidham back.

Starting point is 00:20:35 Heck, maybe after how well James Winston played against Denver last year, Sean Payton is going to be like, hey, come be part of our quarterback. back bring this year. We don't want anything like that happening again this season. And I was looking at this too, Cody. Sean Payton had some glowing things to say back in the day about Mack Jones,

Starting point is 00:20:52 who's a free agent. He said that he was someone they were really high on when he was with the New Orleans Saints and specifically mentioned his decision making and processing as strong suits in his game. So Mac Jones and that whole 2021 draft class are free agents. And if you're talking about reclamation projects, those guys are going to carry that label here in the 2025 offseason. I would just say if they somehow brought in Mac Jones, all these little TikTok footballers that don't know football would go crazy with everything.

Starting point is 00:21:23 They just said like, see, look, the comparison is there between Bo Nix and Mac Jones. I can just see that. It makes me want to puke just thinking about it. So I like that. So how do the Broncos address the quarterback position here in the off season behind Bo Nix? Sarah and I are going to share our personal preference of Broncos country. You're more and welcome to chime in as you do here, as always here, on Locked-on Broncos. Today's episode of show is brought to my friends over there at prize picks,

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Starting point is 00:22:42 That's prize picks, run your game. Once again, download the app today. Use code lockdown NFL to get $50 instantly after you play your first $5 lineup. Prize picks run your game. The fourth quarter action on today's episode, Lockdown Broncos is here. And Broncos country, even though the offseason is here for the true fan, there is never an off season. We've got you covered every single day with everything that you need to know about your favorite team,

Starting point is 00:23:06 whether there's breaking news, coaching changes, roster, shuffles, free agency previews, the NFL draft, the NFL combine mock drafts leading up to the draft. Everything that you want, you're going to get it here locked on Broncos. So make sure you subscribe or follow wherever you get your podcast so you never miss out on what's going on with your favorite team from an objective point of view. Sir, let's dive deep into answering this question here in Broncos country. Obviously, as you're listening to the show, you can chime in as well. Send us your thoughts on social media or on YouTube. How do the Broncos address the quarterback position behind Bo Nix in the off season?

Starting point is 00:23:40 We kind of talked about the backup situation really kind of being paramount here. We mentioned maybe what Sean Payton is looking for, maybe the pros and cons here. Let's take a look at a couple of options here. Would you at this point, we'll go through a couple of series here, if it's between Jared Stidham and Zach Wilson, who are you bringing back and why? Well, I'm taking Zach Wilson, Cody, because I think he's actually, obviously younger. For Jared Stidham, he's going to have to go out there.

Starting point is 00:24:09 And if he's going to start somewhere in the NFL, I mean, the clock is ticking. I think he's 27, 28 years old. So he's not old by any means. But he said last year when Bo Nix was named the starter, like he was a little mift. He was a little ticked off because he believes he's a starter. That's not happening in Denver. And so I think Zach Wilson just time is on his side. And that favors the Broncos as well because it gives you at least another year, I think,

Starting point is 00:24:34 of a high upside backup quarterback. And that's what I think Zach Wilson is. Now, a lot of people get annoyed by this. Well, how does he have upside? He's been in the league since 2021. If he had any upside, he would already see it by now. I know. I get it.

Starting point is 00:24:48 Like, there's, it's definitive. He's a bust. He's never going to play well. Oh, what about guys like Sam Darnel? What about guys like Gino Smith? What about it took Kurt Cousins at least three or four years to even get a semblance of looking good out there. on a football field.

Starting point is 00:25:05 So, Cody, I think that just people are so impatient nowadays. If you're not, if you're not Malik neighbors, if you're not, you know, Jaden Daniels, you suck as a rookie. You're just not good. Like, that's what I can't stand. And so with Zach Wilson, I think that Sean Payton said it last year. He's the most unfairly hated quarterback in the NFL. I feel like that's a guy that Peyton wants to have on his side.

Starting point is 00:25:28 And so I would take him back in a heartbeat. Yeah, I'm with you there. If I had to choose him to one of those two guys, I would pick Wilson as well. And look, we have seen the flashes from. Heck, I mean, Broncos fans have seen it firsthand when he was a member of the Jets. Look, you know, he had a mistake here or there, but he's beating the Denver Broncos. And look, I always go back the moment to me where my opinion on Zach Wilson really kind of changed here was a couple of years ago against Kansas City on Sunday night football.

Starting point is 00:25:56 And he's out there and he's making NFL throw after NFL throw against Steve Spagnolo's defense. And that chief's defense that year was pretty dang good as well. unfortunately they lost the game. Was it because of Zach Wilson? I was thinking to myself, I was like, all right, hey, maybe you know what?

Starting point is 00:26:09 Maybe the Zach Wilson kid, if he goes to a good environment, he can have success. And I think that Denver is a good environment. I think as you mentioned a little bit earlier, I think the destination is a backup in Denver might be a very fruitful one for any player out there who's hoping to have a chance to maybe kind of add some value or add some intrigue to maybe their resume here because,

Starting point is 00:26:30 I mean, you could see and play well in the preseason. And then all of a sudden, Now it's like at the trade deadline, teams are calling and saying, hey, you know, what would it take to move off of your backup? Here's the next question here. Do you see the Broncos keeping two QBs on the 53 or do you see them keeping three the way they did it here in 2024? Well, because of the fact that they didn't like they didn't trade either Stidham or Wilson, which I thought was a foregone conclusion after training camp was over. I'm like, well, they got to trade one of these guys because somebody's going to give a mid-round pick.

Starting point is 00:26:59 Like injuries happen all over the place in the NFL. nobody traded for either of those guys. Miami should have traded for Zach Wilson. I don't understand why they did or Stidham for that matter. I mean, that would have been better than the alternative because they cut their, I think they went into the season with Skyler Thompson as the backup and they just straight up cut him. So I just, there's so many things. I mean, hey, that's the QB1 in Pittsburgh right now.

Starting point is 00:27:25 So I don't know, Cody. I could see it going either way because on the one hand, you love to this idea. of man, another reclamation project, you can develop these quarterbacks. They're not going to be stealing reps from Bo Nix. It's going to be an interesting offseason from that perspective, by the way, because Bo Nix is going to get all the first team reps this year,

Starting point is 00:27:44 unlike last year. But I think that that's a situation where you just, it's like Sam Donald going to San Francisco, right? He didn't have to do anything. And he made $10 million dollars the next offseason from the Vikings because of connections, because of talent, because of age.

Starting point is 00:28:00 I like the idea of the Bronner. Broncos benefiting in that way in the compensatory formula. So in that way, I view quarterbacks as currency in the NFL. And I would love to see the Broncos at a third guy. But I'm not opposed to saying, hey, if you like a guy late in the draft or after the draft, that will be able to sneak on to the practice squad that you don't have to carry on the 53 men roster. I wouldn't be opposed to that idea either. Yeah.

Starting point is 00:28:25 I mean, I think that's an interesting one to it. And the more I look at it is like, all right, do you really want to draft a guy? probably not. Your capital could be used elsewhere. But as we see, there are players that have talent that go undrafted. And certainly they're not, you know, not looking for the next Cinderella story, but can you be a capable backup here in the NFL? Certainly, you've seen that in the NFL.

Starting point is 00:28:44 Historically, you've seen guys be able to do just that. My next question here that we're going to shift to here is, all right, if the Broncos don't decide to go with Zach Wilson or Jared Stiddam, I'm going to give you three names here. And Broncos country, play along. And don't get mad at me for one, because we're looking at maybe. play style or connection. There are two players here with connection to Sean Payton.

Starting point is 00:29:04 Teddy Bridgewater, who was the backup obviously in Detroit. They loved him in Detroit. I mean, he just coach high school. He didn't play all year. He coach high school football, won a state title. And then sign with the lines right before the playoffs was the backup and got in. And Sundays in this past weekend's game on Saturday against the commanders because Jared Goff got his bell rung and, I mean, can command the offense there.

Starting point is 00:29:23 From a trait standpoint, he's not going to replicate anything that Bone Nick does, but he can execute some of the simple things here. Okay. So there's Teddy Bridgewater as one. Drew Locke, which, look, I'm not trying to start a controversy here. Broncos, so don't get mad at me and say, well, is this guy breathing up Drewlock? He helped the Broncos get into the playoffs by beating the Colts, you know, five touchdowns. We didn't see that coming there from him.

Starting point is 00:29:43 But as it strictly as a backup, would it hurt, right? I think that's really where Drewlock stealing is. He's not going to be a starter in the NFL, but can he be a solid backup? Maybe. Maybe not. We'll see. Third name here. Where do you think I'm going with this one?

Starting point is 00:29:57 Ooh, I don't know. I mean, let's see here. I mean, we could be, we could be talking about maybe a, I don't know, I mean, James. Are you going James? Oh, yeah. I mean, that's the one. I just think I like these ideas. This is the type of stuff that's nice to be talking about because we don't have to be saying,

Starting point is 00:30:20 who's going to be the bridge starter? Are they going to draft somebody this, that? I like the idea of bringing it. I'm so open-minded right now, Cody, that I would. even throw guys like i know he's he hasn't played well but i would even throw tray lansson there if if sean peyton wants to replicate the tasem hill offense like i don't understand why the cowboys didn't do any of that stuff that i was really foolish of them in my opinion because he's so good at running the ball uh he's got such great speed why would you not try something like that and hey if

Starting point is 00:30:48 you believe that you can develop guys go get a guy like that but out of those three that you mentioned cody i'm here for the chaos number number three drew lock he's going to have to wear a different jersey number because Will Lutz has that number now, but I'm all for it. Like I don't, who cares at this point? Like stylistically speaking, he could probably run your offense. And yes, there's a high variance with the interceptions, but that same thing exists with Zach Wilson. That was his issue, was turning the ball over.

Starting point is 00:31:16 So I feel like, why not? If you get a, if you get a chance to bring in a third quarterback, maybe Drew Locke is that guy. I would go with James Winston. And that variance that you just spoke of exists here with James Winston as well. You know, he says, deliver me from these, I want the Lord to deliver me from these pick sixes. Remember James? Was it, he was, wasn't he 30 30? The year before he went to the Saints, right? And obviously, he ended up getting LASIC. I don't know if that had anything

Starting point is 00:31:41 to do with everybody through 30 touchdowns. He threw 30 interceptions. My goodness. But then with Sean Payton, I mean, man, James looked incredible. He looked entirely different. He looked more confident. And obviously, Broncos saw firsthand what James can look like when he's really filling it. And of course, yeah, like you're going to get the variance with the turnovers there and things like that. But the hope is that this guy's never going to have to play for you. But if he asked to, you're going to get something serviceable, probably better than almost anybody else out there at this point.

Starting point is 00:32:09 So fun little exercise here, Broncos country. As Sarah said earlier, it's nice that we don't have to be sitting here looking back at the quarterback position in 2024 and saying, all right, who are the Broncos going to go with the QB in 2025? What does the backup quarterback situation potentially look like? That is really the biggest question surrounding this position. So if you were the general manager, how? would you address the backup QB position behind next to season?

Starting point is 00:32:31 Make sure you let us know here on Lock on Broncos. That's the first installment of our position recap series from 2024 and a look ahead at 2025. Tomorrow's episode for all you every dayers, we're going to look at the running back position. What did it produce in 2024? What are the biggest questions about this position going into 2025? And is that solution? Is that answer to that question already on the roster or is it elsewhere?

Starting point is 00:32:54 We'll break that down and much more on tomorrow's episode, Lockdown, Broncos. tacos.

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