5 NFL teams that could use an upgrade at quarterback

Jan 3, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford (7) throws the ball against the New York Giants during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford (7) throws the ball against the New York Giants during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 26, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Mark Sanchez (3) during the fourth quarter of a NFL game on Thanksgiving against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Detroit won 45-14. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Mark Sanchez (3) during the fourth quarter of a NFL game on Thanksgiving against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Detroit won 45-14. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /

AFC. West. Denver Broncos. 3. player. 45.

The Broncos went from having two so-so starters on 2015’s Super Bowl Champion team in Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler to losing both in the offseason to retirement and NFL free agency. Now the Week 1 starter for the Broncos is recently acquired failed starter Mark Sanchez.

Sanchez did help the New York Jets get to back-to-back AFC Championship Games in 2009 and 2010, but he did so mostly as a game manager that relied on two great Rex Ryan defenses. Could Sanchez be the same kind of player he was his first years in the league with the Jets now with the Broncos? Sure, but the odds of Denver repeating as Super Bowl Champions with Sanchez under center are slim to none.

Denver didn’t have great quarterback play in 2015, but now have the worst quarterback situation in the entire AFC West. Kansas City has the nimble Alex Smith that never turns the football over. Oakland has a bright young passer in Carr. San Diego has a multi-time Pro Bowler in the boisterous Philip Rivers. Denver has Sanchez and former Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Trevor Siemian.

Can the Broncos make noise in the AFC with bad quarterback play again in 2016? Yes, but they’ll need their elite defense to carry them back to the promised land. However, Denver did lose key pieces on that defense like defensive lineman Malik Jackson to Jacksonville and inside linebacker Danny Trevathan to Chicago.

With Denver hemorrhaging in 2016 NFL free agency, Kansas City still being a great team, and Oakland on the rise, there is no guarantee that Denver will even make the AFC Playoffs in 2016. If the Broncos fail to reach the postseason next January, poor quarterback play will be an easy scapegoat for the usually strong AFC West franchise.

Next: 2. Cleveland Browns