For the second year in a row, the Denver Broncos know who will be the team’s starting quarterback when the season officially kicks off. That is a bit different than the years that immediately followed the retirement of Peyton Manning as the likes of Mark Sanchez, Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch each tried to be the next guy in line.
Joe Flacco will be the guy this year, but who is going to be his backup? The backup quarterback position is not one to sneeze at as one injury could lead that player into the huddle. In Denver, the guy who carries the clipboard must be ready as there is nothing to suggest that Flacco will be the team’s starter for years to come.
Drew Lock: This is the guy the fans are going to want to talk about and see play the most as the hope is that he will be the quarterback of the future. But how far away is the future? Lock slid down the draft board and was passed up by several teams, many of which needed a quarterback.
The Broncos hope they got a steal in the second round.
Kevin Hogan: This is the guy most everyone has forgotten but if the Broncos played a game right now, he would be the No. 2 quarterback based on experience alone.
Hogan is a serviceable backup, but not one you want to rely on past a game or two. That said, he will have to be beaten out for a spot on the roster.
Brett Rypien: Though he went undrafted, Rypien is an exciting player with a potential future at the professional level. The nephew of former NFL quarterback Mark Rypien has been conditioned for this for some time and will get a chance to put his best foot forward soon.
It will be interesting to see if the Broncos keep three quarterbacks on the active roster. If they do, the battle will be between Rypien and Hogan. But if they do, it could also show a lack of confidence in Lock.
