Broncos’ Drew Lock poised to be one of NFL’s biggest breakout stars in 2020

Drew Lock had the Denver Broncos playing inspired football at the end of last season. Now, he could become one of the NFL’s rising stars.

The Denver Broncos won four of their last five games in 2019. With Drew Lock under center for his first full season as a starter, the team is looking to put the NFL on notice.

Lock, a second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, missed a large chunk of his rookie season with a thumb injury. Once Joe Flacco went down due to an injury of his own, Lock took the starting quarterback job and never looked back. He’d go on to lead the Broncos to four wins in a five-week span to close out the campaign, cementing his status as the team’s signal-caller of the future.

As Lock heads into year two in the NFL, things are starting to fall into place. Per the Broncos website, he’s processing things “10 times as quick” as he did as a rookie. That should be music to Denver’s ears, as the franchise did its best to surround the 23-year-old with more than enough talent for him to make a huge leap in 2020.

John Elway, a Broncos legend and the team’s general manager, added a pair of exciting new weapons in the draft that Lock is excited to play with. In round one, he picked up former Alabama wideout Jerry Jeudy. He projects to be a top target for years to come. Speedy receiver KJ Hamler needs some work, but you can’t teach athleticism. He should immediately step in and take the top off opposing defenses.

Both players join Courtland Sutton, a third-year player that posted 1,112 receiving yards and six touchdowns last season. Tight end Noah Fant is a matchup nightmare and could also be poised for a second-year breakout. Third-round pick Albert Okwuegbunam, a college teammate of Lock’s when the two were at Missouri together, will be his backup. Okwuegbunam’s athletic profile makes him an intriguing option in Pat Shurmur’s offense.

Elway’s work didn’t stop there, though. Despite Denver already having a productive running back in Phillip Lindsay, two-time Pro Bowl running back Melvin Gordon is coming over from the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers. With one of the most dynamic rushing attacks in the league, along with the addition of lineman Graham Glasgow, it should be a lot easier for Lock to play within himself and make good things happen.

If Lock doesn’t have a breakout season, it certainly won’t be due to a lackluster supporting cast. The physical talent is there, as he possesses a strong arm and the ability to get out of the pocket and extend plays. If his mental processing and understanding of the offense are now as advanced as he claims, the Broncos could shock the football world in 2020.

Every year, there seems to be a young quarterback who comes out of nowhere to have a monster season. That very well may be Drew Lock in 2020.