Broncos Mailbag: Does quarterback Drew Lock have a future with Denver?

Denver Post Broncos writer Ryan O’Halloran posts his Broncos Mailbag periodically during the season. Submit questions to Ryan here.

The Broncos look to beryllium connected the verge of having an above-average violative line. Is that optimism shaded by orange-colored glasses?

— Brandon Brown, Rogers, Minn.

What’s betwixt mean and above-average? Maybe semi-above mean works. Let’s spell position-by-position.

Left tackle Garett Bolles: Second-team All-Pro and inactive ascending.

Left defender Dalton Risner: Needs to enactment steadfast aft battling ankle wounded past year.

Center Lloyd Cushenberry: Coaches person raved astir his betterment and helium did play amended past twelvemonth successful Games 9-16 compared to 1-8.

Right defender Graham Glasgow: Like Risner, helium fought done wounded past year, but brings a seasoned presence.

Right tackle Bobby Massie: The Broncos did good by signing him truthful precocious successful the offseason (June) aft Ja’Wuan James’ wounded and departure.

Yes, they person a accidental to beryllium supra average, peculiarly successful the tally game.

Ryan, tin Teddy Bridgewater beryllium the Broncos’ semipermanent solution astatine backmost oregon bash you deliberation he’s conscionable different impermanent fill-in until we spell and draught Spencer Rattler oregon Sam Howell adjacent year? Please accidental the latter.

— Chris Rhodes, Fort Collins

Let’s spot if Bridgewater makes it done September earlier reasoning astir him beyond 2021. If helium plays himself into a semipermanent starter, that means the Broncos marque the playoffs this year. Chances are, helium is simply a short-term option.

The Broncos’ defense, if arsenic advertised, volition support the squad successful games and triumph capable to instrumentality them retired of the Ratter/Howell sweepstakes prevention for a large commercialized up the board.

Where bash the Broncos spell from present with Drew Lock? Are they going to thrust retired his declaration and fto him spell disconnected into escaped bureau aft adjacent year? Do they commercialized him? I don’t spot a aboriginal with Lock successful a Broncos uniform.

— Wes, Boulder

It makes cleanable fiscal consciousness to thrust retired Lock’s declaration done the 2022 play due to the fact that helium has worth arsenic a backup and chances are, he’ll extremity up starting games implicit the adjacent 2 years.

If Lock starts games and plays well, helium would person commercialized worth successful the offseason if the Broncos privation to see him successful a bundle for a seasoned backmost oregon to determination up for a rookie passer.

Don’t nonstop Lock into the sunset yet.

Drew Lock ne'er had a accidental to stay QB1. I judge Vic Fangio and George Paton knew Teddy Bridgewater was going to beryllium QB1 from the infinitesimal they traded for him. … Many factors went into Lock’s missed aboriginal development. From injuries to COVID and a alteration successful violative coordinator, the Broncos intelligibly gave up connected him excessively early. … We each cognize america Broncos instrumentality are brutal erstwhile it comes to our squad and particularly the backmost position. Lock knows the violative strategy and the strengths and weaknesses of his receivers and has the timing down with the team. It is inactive going to instrumentality clip for Teddy to get connected that level. They accidental patience is simply a virtue. But successful the NFL, clip is money.

— Victor, Alameda, Calif.

Victor went connected an epic rant truthful I had to trim it down truthful it wouldn’t instrumentality up an full paper page.

Anyway, to his constituent that this backmost contention was a sham and Bridgewater was going to beryllium the starter each the mode through? I disagree … mostly. As soon arsenic Bridgewater was acquired successful a trade, I was assured successful saying helium would beryllium the Week 1 guy.

Did the Broncos springiness up connected Lock excessively early? I’m connected grounds disagreeing with the firing of violative coordinator Rich Scangarello aft the 2019 season, erstwhile Lock finished 4-1. Lock was drafted for that circumstantial offense. And past propulsion successful nary in-person offseason programme past twelvemonth and it acceptable up Lock and caller play-caller Pat Shurmur for a struggle.

I disagree with Bridgewater not having capable clip with the receivers to make a rapport. There has been a grooming campy and 3 preseason games to execute that extremity and being a veteran, helium tin bash that quicker than a rookie.

Now that we’ve signed Justin Simmons and Garett Bolles to semipermanent deals, who’s the adjacent idiosyncratic to get locked up by the Broncos? I consciousness similar Courtland Sutton is simply a bully prime if he’s steadfast and has a beardown comeback season. I’d similar to spot Alexander Johnson get a caller declaration due to the fact that of his play-making skills. What bash you think?

— Miles, Parker

I presumption Sutton and extracurricular linebacker Bradley Chubb arsenic the adjacent 2 guys to get locked up semipermanent if wide manager George Paton wants to spell that route.

I would hold connected Sutton to spot however helium plays successful the archetypal fractional of the play coming disconnected his torn ACL and if the Broncos marque a bully offer, it volition beryllium up to Sutton’s campy to marque a decision. The Broncos person the franchise tag disposable if determination is simply a stalemate.

When Paton was with the Vikings, their process was to motion their first-round prime to an hold aft their 4th twelvemonth truthful if helium follows that, expect Chubb to re-sign aft the season.

Johnson and wrong linebacker Josey Jewell are some escaped agents successful March. The Broncos person Justin Strnad and Baron Browning and could spell with them successful 2022.

Do you deliberation Von Miller volition discontinue arsenic a Bronco? He’s my favourite subordinate successful orangish and bluish and I would emotion to ticker him propulsion a John Elway and walk his full vocation here.

— Pat, Littleton

It’s up to Miller successful 2 ways. 1. If helium is productive this year, the Broncos volition privation to connection him a declaration to semi-guarantee helium is simply a one-franchise player. 2. If helium is productive this year, but the squad struggles, Miller volition request to determine if helium wants to assistance spot the squad done a rebuild oregon pursuit a 2nd Super Bowl ring.

I spell backmost and distant connected this. I disagreed with the Broncos’ determination to clasp Miller astatine his existent wage ($18 cardinal base). But the mode Miller has talked this summer, it does dependable similar playing for 1 squad is important to him. He should recognize that adjacent if helium does permission aft the season, it won’t diminish his Broncos’ legacy.

Denver Post Broncos writer Ryan O’Halloran posts his Broncos Mailbag periodically during the season. Submit questions to Ryan here.