Mark Sanchez traded to Denver Broncos

Mark Sanchez has been traded to the Denver Broncos from the Philadelphia Eagles. Does this mean that the Broncos have solved their quarterback issues?

According to Mike Klis of 9NEWS in Denver, the Philadelphia Eagles have traded backup quarterback Mark Sanchez to the Denver Broncos for a conditional draft pick in 2017.

This news comes as a huge surprise, as Sanchez might now become the new starting quarterback for the Broncos in 2016 now that Peyton Manning has retired and Brock Osweiler spurned the Broncos in free agency to sign with the AFC South’s Houston Texans.

Many suspected that the Broncos would target a quarterback like Ryan Fitzpatrick or Robert Griffin III in 2016 NFL free agency to solidify their now gaping hole at the quarterback position. The trade for Sanchez, who failed as a starter for the New York Jets a few years back, is shocking to say the very least.

That being said, at one point in his NFL career, Sanchez did lead two defensive-minded football teams in New York to back-to-back AFC Championships under then head coach Rex Ryan. Broncos general manager John Elway might believe that Sanchez can return to his old form behind head coach Gary Kubiak’s ultra-conservative offense and Wade Phillips’ top-tier defense.

While Sanchez isn’t a great starting quarterback, he does have value as a high-end No. 2 option under center for a respectable team. At times, he had a really good feel for Chip Kelly’s up-tempo offense in Philadelphia. Maybe a change of scenery will do wonders for the former USC Trojan quarterback.

Regardless, Denver has a new quarterback under center in Sanchez and he won’t cost nearly as much as any other available passer in NFL free agency.