Case Keenum to Broncos shifts outlook of AFC West
Although free agency won’t officially open until tomorrow afternoon, the Denver Broncos have already agreed to a move that will address their most important offseason need.
The report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter that came late Monday night did not give specific contract details but did confirm that the Broncos and quarterback Case Keenum, had been in discussions and agreed to a terms that will executed on Wednesday afternoon.
Keenum threw for 3,547 yards and 22 touchdowns in a career year that ended one game shy of a Super Bowl last year. The Broncos, since winning the Super Bowl in 2016, have failed to reach the playoffs and back-to-back disappointing years, due largely to inconsistency and lack of production from the QB position.
Denver’s defense hasn’t been up to its Super Bowl form the last two seasons either but it’s at least one of the better units in the NFL. They could use some help on the interior but even if general manager John Elway can’t make that happen, they have no major holes and the addition a decent quarterback is probably the single biggest move the Broncos could have made to improve on both sides of the ball.
With the defense in pretty good shape, plenty of weapons returning at the skill positions, and Keenum taking care of the Quarterback spot, Denver’s next biggest priority will be the offensive line. Almost every mock draft out there had the Broncos taking a quarterback with their No. 6 overall pick but expect them to go a different direction since Keenum, at only 30, solidifies the quarterback spot for now and the future.
Unfortunately, this draft class isn’t a great one in terms of offensive line talent at the top of the first round but there are still some really good options on the other side of the ball at least.
Denver will most likely take the best available defensive player at No. 6 then look to free agency to add to the O-line so Keenum isn’t running for his life and/or scraping himself off the turn 10-15 times a game this season. Patriots’ Tackle, Nate Solder, should be their top target but there’s a decent crop of free agent offensive linemen out there so one player won’t be make-or-break.
Menelik Watson, who was put on IR last November will be coming back. Garrett Bolles, who the Broncos drafted in the first round last year will be improved after a rookie season that saw him develop throughout. They’re also working to re-sign center Matt Paradis, who has been the only solid and consistent piece of Denver’s offensive line since 2016.
The addition of Keenum moves the Broncos immediately from the absolute bottom of the AFC West to contending for the division. Adding someone like Nate Solder would most likely move them into the favorite position but the Kansas City Chiefs are having an active offseason, the Los Angeles Chargers, who bring back their whole team, have moves to make, and Jon Gruden will be taking over in Oakland so things are up in the air.
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Growing up a Broncos fan, I have a personal connection to all this.
Elway owns seven car dealerships in the Denver area and I make a point to avoid coming anywhere close to them when I go to Colorado to see family – purely out of fear that his name on the building alone might hypnotize me into a new Jeep or something more expensive. He brought two Super Bowls as a player and has one as a GM.
If he can bring a couple more, I’ll probably kinda owe it to him to buy a car. The place I bought my last two cars has delivered zero Super Bowls to my team so far so probably not going back there. I do like that it’s 15 minutes away rather than the 1,500-mile trek I’d have to make to say thanks. One more Super Bowl and I’ll strongly consider it. Two more and I’ll commit to making my next automotive purchase from one of his dealerships.