Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock is going to break out in 2020

Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock showed potential in limited snaps in 2019, and a retooled offense could help him reach the Pro Bowl in 2020.

Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock only started five games in 2019, but his strong play evidently convinced the front office that he is the team’s quarterback of the future.

Lock went 4-1 as a starter in 2019, racking up 1,020 passing yards and tossing seven touchdowns. His best performance came against the Houston Texans, when he picked apart the defense to the tune of 309 passing yards, three touchdowns, and a 14-point win.

Now, after John Elway added wideouts Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler to a receiving corps that already boasted Courtland Sutton, Noah Fant, and DaeSean Hamilton, Lock could be poised for an incredible season.

Denver’s offense has largely struggled since Peyton Manning retired after the 2015 season, with Elway repeatedly whiffing at the quarterback position. Trevor Siemian, Paxton Lynch, Case Keenum, and Joe Flacco were all failed experiments at the position, but Lock appears to be different.

While he had growing pains in 2019 (namely a rough outing against the Kansas City Chiefs), the second-year signal caller has the luxury of a young, loaded receiving corps in 2020.

Jeudy was considered by many to be the best, most pro-ready wide receiver in this year’s draft class, and Hamler can be used as a gadget player and deep threat. Sutton, on the other hand, is fresh off of a 1,000-yard season and tight end Noah Fant showed some flashes as a rookie.

With Phillip Lindsay and Melvin Gordon, two starting-caliber running backs, in the backfield, Lock has all the tools around him to make the Pro Bowl in 2020. His teammates, including star safety Justin Simmons, clearly believe that he is capable of doing so.

While Lock is still unproven, he has a big arm and the team believes in him. If he can improve over the course of a full season, the playoffs should be well within Denver’s reach. The defense is solid once again, and, for the first time in years, opposing teams have to worry about a potent offense.

Lock’s play will ultimately decide just how far the Broncos can go in 2020, and if he puts together more performances like his 2019 game against the Texans, a return to the postseason is likely in Denver’s future.