Tag: veteran quarterback

Should the Packers sign a veteran backup quarterback?

The Packers are as inexperienced as it gets at quarterback. Should Green Bay sign a veteran to backup Jordan Love?

The Green Bay Packers might have one of the least experienced quarterback groups entering training camp in NFL history: Starter Jordan Love has exactly one regular-season start, and backups Danny Etling and Sean Clifford (2023 fifth-round pick) have never appeared in an NFL game.

Earlier this month, former NFL general manager Rick Spielman suggested the Packers should sign Teddy Bridgewater, who has extensive experience both as a starter and backup. In a shallow pool of available quarterbacks, Bridgewater is likely the best option.

This question has hovered all offseason: Should the Packers sign a veteran to be the backup behind Love?

The staff at Packers Wire provided their own answers:

Broncos might add a ‘quarantine quarterback’ to roster

The Broncos might consider adding a ‘quarantine quarterback’ to their roster.

Less than a week into training camp, the Denver Broncos’ quarterback depth chart appears to be pretty much set — if everyone stays healthy.

Drew Lock is the obvious starter and Jeff Driskel is the No. 2. Brett Rypien is expected to serve as QB3, possibly from the practice squad.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Broncos might bring a fourth option — a “quarantine quarterback,” according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

The fourth QB would self isolate and attend team meetings virtually from home while studying the offense and working out on his own. That QB would be called upon in case of an emergency, such as Lock and Driskel both catching the virus at the same time.

Because the NFL will allow teams to carry four veterans on practice squads this season, the “quarantine QB” wouldn’t have to take up a spot on the active roster. The list of veteran QBs available that Klis mentioned by name includes Blake Bortles, Josh McCown and Drew Stanton.

Kyle Shurmur, the son of Broncos offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, and Kyle Sloter, who started his career in Denver, are also available.

Sloter was with the Minnesota Vikings from 2017-2018 and he spent time with the Arizona Cardinals and Detroit Lions last season. Sloter visited the Chicago Bears earlier this week but is currently still a free agent.

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John Elway explains why Broncos didn’t go after veteran QBs

The Broncos plan to build around Drew Lock instead of going after Cam Newton or Jameis Winston.

Several high-profile NFL quarterbacks became available (or are expected to become available) this offseason.

Cam Newton and Jameis Winston are both free agents. Andy Dalton is likely available via trade. Yet the Broncos, who have an inexperienced starter, didn’t pursue any of the veterans on the market. Why not?

“There are some quarterbacks that are still available, but we decided that we’re going to build around Drew and give him that opportunity to take the job,” Elway said during a pre-draft conference call with reporters on Monday.

Instead of using salary cap space and draft picks to sign or trade for a veteran QB, Denver plans to use its resources to build the roster around Lock. Elway knows his young QB isn’t a finished product but the team is optimistic that Lock will become a leader of the franchise.

“Obviously by no means has Drew ‘made it,'” Elway said. “We believe he’s got the potential to do it, and we think he’s just going to continue to get better and better. He’s still in the learning process and knows that he’s going to have to get better. We really liked what we saw [last year].”

Lock went 4-1 as a starter last season and the Broncos are hoping that he will perform at an even higher level during the 2020 season.

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Broncos GM John Elway would like to add a veteran backup QB

Broncos general manager John Elway appears poised to sign a veteran quarterback to serve as Drew Lock’s backup in 2020.

Broncos coach Vic Fangio said at the NFL combine Tuesday that he doesn’t think Drew Lock’s backup has to be a veteran. That doesn’t mean general manager John Elway won’t look for a veteran, though.

Elway has the final say on Denver’s roster decisions and though the team might not need a veteran, Elway seems to prefer having one.

“We’ll see, [but] I think I’d like to get a veteran [quarterback],” Elway told ESPN’s Jeff Legwold. “Just with the youth we have at the position now and somebody that can help, you know, help in that situation. … I think I’d prefer a veteran, but we’ll see what’s available.”

The Broncos seem unlikely to bring back Joe Flacco and though Brandon Allen is 27 years old, he’s probably not the kind of veteran Elway is talking about. That leaves Brett Rypien, who is entering just his second season.

Denver will likely have to find a veteran through free agency in March.

As Legwold noted, the list of veteran QBs set to hit free agency includes Chase Daniel, Marcus Mariota and Matt Moore. Broncos fans should probably keep an eye on those QBs as free agency approaches.

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