Case Keenum, we hardly knew ye.<\/p>\n
The Broncos\u2019 latest savior at quarterback is being shipped to Washington to make way for the Joe Flacco Era, which follows Keenum Era, the Trevor Siemian Era, the Brock Osweiler Era and the Paxton Lynch Error, er, Era.<\/p>\n
Give Broncos general manager John Elway a wee bit of credit for not eating all of Keenum\u2019s salary for 2019 \u2014 Washington and Denver will share in paying his salary \u2014 but it brings us to a defining issue.<\/p>\n
NFL franchises do not acquire superstar quarterbacks via free agency. They draft them. This should be kind of obvious to Elway, who was the No. 1 pick of the 1983 draft and maneuvered a trade from the then-Baltimore Colts to the Broncos.<\/p>\n
Elway lucked into Peyton Manning. Please remember that Manning was coming off a neck injury, which made him available, and that Manning was down to Denver and the San Francisco 49ers in the end, and chose the former so he wouldn\u2019t have to face his brother Eli and the New York Giants on a regular basis.<\/p>\n
But since we\u2019re trying to help John Elway, here are the top quarterbacks in quarterback rating (QBR) from the 2018 season.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City \u2026 The 10th pick from the 2017 draft. He sat a year behind Alex Smith and promptly destroyed pretty much everyone but the Patriots.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Drew Brees, New Orleans \u2026 Taken in the second round by the then-San Diego Chargers. A major shoulder injury and the drafting of Philip Rivers moved him to New Orleans, where he has become Breesus.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh \u2026 No. 11 back in 2004. Two Super Bowls later it seems like a good pick.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Mitchell Trubisky, Chicago \u2026 No. 2 pick in 2017. Now if he could just kick a field goal.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay \u2026 I wouldn\u2019t have thought he was No. 5 in QBR, but he did go No. 1 in 2015.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Andrew Luck, Indianapolis \u2026 Yes, he\u2019s had injuries, but the Comeback Player of the Year in 2018 is a stud when healthy. Oh, yes, he went No. 1 in 2012.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Philip Rivers, San Diego-Los Angeles Chargers \u2026 As mentioned, he displaced Brees by being the No. 4 pick in 2004. As much as Broncos fans don\u2019t like him, Rivers is good.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Matt Ryan, Atlanta \u2026 He got the Falcons to a Super Bowl, for crying out loud. We\u2019ll not mention the second half of that game. He was the No. 3 pick in 2008.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Tom Brady, New England \u2026 You might have heard of him. Yes, the Patriots lucked into him in the sixth round, but New England has made its own luck during its dynasty.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams \u2026 After being freed from the bondage of coach Jeff Fisher during his rookie season, the No. 1 pick of 2016 is the real deal.<\/p>\n
Do we notice a theme? All were drafted. Only Brees has moved from his original team under extraordinary circumstances.<\/p>\n
The fact remains that the only quarterback whom the Broncos have drafted who has won a playoff game is Tim Tebow. (No, remember, the old Baltimore Colts drafted Elway.) One would hope, instead of picking people off the scrap pile (ahem, Keenum or Flacco), it might be time to look for the franchise quarterback.<\/p>\n
The Broncos have the 10th pick this year and may be encountering some good fortune as Oklahoma\u2019s Kyler Murray\u2019s draft status has rocketed in recent weeks. Yes, he won the Heisman, but there is talk of the Arizona Cardinals taking him at No. 1, a big risk given that he\u2019s only played one full season at the college level.<\/p>\n
With the Oakland Raiders at No. 4 also showing interest in Murray, it\u2019s possible that quarterbacks like Dwayne Haskins (Ohio State), Daniel Jones (Duke and a David Cutcliffe protege) or Drew Lock (Missouri) could be available for Denver at No. 10.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, good luck, Case, in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n