What's Next for Denver Broncos in Starting Quarterback Search?

The Denver Broncos have had an interesting offseason to say the least. With all the moves they’ve made in free agency, they have yet to shore up the quarterback position. Yes, they traded for Mark Sanchez earlier in the month, but general manager John Elway revealed that was going to be the first step (not the last) in looking for a new starting quarterback.

Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak spent a lot of time talking about the quarterback situation while attending the NFL owners' meetings in Florida this week.

“Obviously we’ve got work to do, and we’re going to create competition," Kubiak said. "John [Elway] and I will continue to work on that and do it at our pace until we feel like we’ve got the right guy. It’s another challenge, and we look forward to getting started in April.”

What’s next for the Broncos in their search for a starting quarterback? Let’s take a look.

Colin Kaepernick and April 1

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The Broncos may be considered the front-runner to trade for San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. They may have been discussing a trade for some time now, but nothing has come to fruition.

Kubiak admitted the team is looking to add competition for Sanchez and Trevor Siemian.

“Absolutely. Whoever we bring in, it’s about competition," Kubiak said. "We’re not going to give anybody a job. We’ve got a good football team. Whoever comes in and plays that position for us is going to have to earn it.

"I think our players will rally around it just like they did around [QB] Brock [Osweiler] last year when Brock played the seven games he played in. It’s another challenge to work through.”

On the flip side, the 49ers seem to be playing hardball at this time. Per Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com, a trade for Kaepernick is not close to getting done at this point, according to 49ers general manager Trent Baalke.

The 49ers may change their stance with an April 1 deadline coming up in Kaepernick’s contract. If he’s on the roster that day, then his 2016 salary of $11.9 million becomes fully guaranteed. With bonuses included, Kaepernick’s cap hit for 2016 is going to be $15.8 million. Any trade for him is likely to come with a restructured contract. That’s easier to achieve if no money is yet guaranteed.

Taking a Long Look at Robert Griffin III

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According to Kubiak, the Broncos are taking a long look at former Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III. Released by Washington earlier this year, Griffin is free to sign with any team.

Per Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com, Kubiak said Griffin is "part of the conversation" at quarterback.

Griffin should be part of the conversation for the Broncos, as options at the position are somewhat thin at this time. The question is: How serious are the Broncos considering him?

Yes, Griffin started his career in a similar offense to what the Broncos run when Mike Shanahan was the head coach in Washington. Yes, Griffin has the athleticism desired to run a bootleg-heavy offense like Kubiak wants.

However, injuries have derailed his pro career. Griffin has not only been broken physically, but his play on the field shows a different player mentally. Pressure seems to get to him more than ever after he’s taken an NFL beating. Perhaps Griffin can shake that off with a fresh start, but it is something the Broncos would have to take a chance on.

Mike Glennon an Option?

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a nice backup quarterback with plenty of starting experience in Mike Glennon. A tall quarterback with a big arm, Glennon compares favorably to Osweiler—but with more time as a starter.

The Buccaneers picked Glennon in the third round of the 2013 NFL draft out of North Carolina State, and he started 13 games as a rookie. He went 4-9 as a starter and completed 59.4 percent of his passes for 2,608 yards, 19 touchdowns and nine interceptions. In 2014, he was a backup to Josh McCown but still appeared in six games. In those contests, he threw for 1,417 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions.

According to an article from the Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud, Bucs general manager Jason Licht said Glennon has drawn interest from several teams. Licht said trade discussions could continue until the NFL draft. The Buccaneers may want to extend Glennon to keep him around, but it’s unclear if he’s willing to sign off on continuing as the backup behind Jameis Winston.

A third-round pick may be enough to convince the Buccaneers to get something for Glennon before they likely lose him next offseason in free agency.

Looking to the 2016 NFL Draft

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The Broncos may look for their next starter—and perhaps their next franchise quarterback—in the 2016 NFL draft.

Kubiak likes what he’s seen from North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz.

“I’m very impressed with him," Kubiak said. "He does everything you want a guy to do. He’s under center, he’s in the [shot]gun, he moves around and he throws the ball on the move. I like the way he went to the Senior Bowl and elevated his play. I think he’s going to be a really good pro, and he’s got a bright future.”

The Broncos have two chances to get Wentz in the 2016 NFL draft—slim and none. The quarterback-needy Cleveland Browns own the second overall pick in the draft, and they would be wise to select Wentz in that spot. Even if the Browns were to pass on the talented signal-caller, teams like the 49ers or the Los Angeles Rams would jump at the chance to add a potential franchise quarterback like Wentz.

Instead, the Broncos need to consider other options in the draft—even if that means mid- or late-round guys.

Paxton Lynch (Memphis) might be an option for the Broncos if he falls to the end of the first round. He’s a tall and athletic passer with a quick release. In fact, it’s fair to compare his skill set to that of Kaepernick’s. Dak Prescott (Mississippi State) and Cardale Jones (Ohio State) are two mid-round prospects the Broncos could consider. Even a guy like Vernon Adams (Oregon) would make sense if the Broncos wait until the later rounds to select a quarterback.

Summary

What’s next for the Broncos in their quarterback search? They’ll need to stay patient and consider all options, according to Kubiak.

“It’s a fluid situation," Kubiak said. "John and I talk about it every day. I think obviously we know the guys out there that are still free [agents].”

Kubiak explained: “The draft this year has some good quarterbacks in it. It’s a day-to-day process and something that we continue to work through. I can’t speak for John, but I know through our conversations that we’ve tried to have patience here, make sure we do this the right way and make sure we feel good about who we bring in from a competitive standpoint. We’ll continue to have patience there and make sure we get the right guy.”

Yes, the Broncos are somewhat scrambling at the quarterback position—but Elway was one of the best scrambling quarterbacks in NFL history. His calm mind with chaos swirling around him on the field serves him well as an executive.

Simply put, the Broncos are not in any sort of panic mode with this quarterback situation. They have a few different options, and Elway will find the player he thinks best suits what the Broncos need at the position—this year and beyond.

All quotes and injury/practice observations obtained firsthand. Record/statistical information provided via the Broncos' media department unless otherwise noted. Advanced stats via ESPN's employees-only database. Draft grades courtesy of NFLDraftScout.com.

Contract and salary-cap information provided by Spotrac. Transaction history provided by Pro Sports Transactions.