No reasonable person will argue the Denver Broncos need a new quarterback. Linebacker Brandon Marshall thinks general manager John Elway will open up the checkbook to address that problem.
While appearing on NFL Network (h/t Nicki Jhabvala, Denver Post), Marshall said he believes Denver won’t pick a quarterback in the draft because the team tried that route two years ago and it hasn’t worked out.
“I think he’s going to get a free-agent quarterback. I think he’s going to go spend some money and fix the position, because it’s kind of a toss-up with these rookie quarterbacks. You never know.”
The Broncos used three different players behind center in 2017, finishing 5-11 in a frustrating year.
Trevor Siemian, Brock Osweiler and Paxton Lynch combined for 19 touchdown passes compared to 22 interceptions, and Denver ranked 27th in both completion percentage and yards per attempt.
Worst of all, it wasted another superb defensive year. The Broncos ranked third in yards per game allowed, boasting the NFL’s most efficient run-stopping unit, too. If Denver could’ve even had a league-average offense complementing the defense, the team would’ve been a contender in the AFC West.
Instead, Marshall and Co. are watching the playoffs from home because of Elway’s missteps at the position. But the linebacker didn’t wander aimlessly into offseason thoughts. He had some helpful advice for the man in charge of Denver’s personnel.
“We played against a guy in Week 16 that was pretty good.”
That’s one vote for Kirk Cousins, Denver Broncos quarterback.