Over the last three offseasons, Broncos general manager John Elway has built a young offense that is headlined by Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, KJ Hamler, Noah Fant, Melvin Gordon and Phillip Lindsay.
Denver opted not to bring in a veteran quarterback this offseason, choosing instead to build the team around Drew Lock. That gave the second-year quarterback a boost in confidence.
“I think the [offseason] just ended up saying that they saw something positive in the way I played in those last games [in 2019], potentially being a guy here that could stay for a long time and help the Broncos win as many games as possible,” Lock said during a Zoom conference call on May 5. “It means a lot to me to see that happen. It puts a little extra confidence on my back.”
Being surrounded by weapons also puts more pressure on Lock — the young QB won’t have any excuses now if he doesn’t play well. Lock has embraced that pressure, noting that he already holds himself to a high standard.
“Those expectations do rise when you have so many weapons around you, but I like to say that I hold myself to high expectations,” Lock said. “I like to put pressure on myself in general. I think the pressure that I put on myself always outweighs the pressure that comes from media or even friends and family. I feel like the pressure that I hang on my head always means the most in the end to me.”
Fans and media members aren’t the only ones who expect big things from Lock this season — his teammates have high expectations, too.
“I know I’m looking for him to do some great things this year especially [after] going 4-1 in his first starts,” safety Kareem Jackson said Tuesday. “I’m eager to see him step in and be the guy Day 1 and see the way he’ll progress throughout practice and the way he’ll get better and just progressing throughout the year and just leading this team.
“I think he has that type of capability that he can go out and be a big-time leader for us and he can go out and make some things happen on Sunday for us and put some points up.”
Lock completed 64.1 percent of his passes for 1,020 yards with seven touchdowns against three interceptions in five games last season.
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