Does everyone remember when the Denver Broncos were one of the elite teams in the AFC? From 2012 to 2015, they dominated the AFC West and won the division each year, finished with one of the top two seeds in the AFC and were considered to be a Super Bowl contender. Since winning Super Bowl 50, the Broncos have a record of 15-18 in their last two seasons and their biggest question mark has been at the most important position, the quarterback. When Peyton Manning retired after Denver defeated the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50, many thought they were still in good shape with Brock Osweiler because he was considered to be the heir apparent to Peyton when he decided to call it a career. Let’s say things didn’t pan out that way because Brock decided to take more money and sign with the Houston Texans. The Broncos decided to start Trevor Siemian and he wasn’t bad, but he hasn’t been the long-term answer for them. With free agency starting, the first quarterback domino has fallen and it’s Case Keenum as he intends to sign with the Denver Broncos when free agency begins tomorrow.
Case has definitely made his way around the league. He was an undrafted free agent who signed with the Houston Texans and served as Matt Schaub’s back up. In 2013, Schaub was benched and Keenum got his chance to start and the team struggled and finished with a 2-14 record, going 0-8 in his starts. He’s played with the Rams and made another return to the Texans before signing a one-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings in 2017. He had the best season of his career and helped lead the Vikings to a 13-3 record, the two seed in the NFC and the NFC Championship game where they fell short to the eventual Super Bowl Eagles. When I watch him play, I noticed the pocket awareness that he plays with and he has the utmost confidence in his arm. He’s also mobile and can move the pocket along with making throws on the run. He’s able to make all the throws and when pressure is coming in his direction, he has the shiftiness to step into the pocket and fire the ball down the field. He displays excellent footwork and he’s had to work on that considering he’s an undersized quarterback (6’1).
I think this is a good move for the Broncos and this will be the best quarterback they’ve had under center since Peyton. However, I don’t think he’s the long-term solution for them moving forward and I think he can hold the fort down for two seasons or so. I’m still trying to figure out if this is enough to make Denver a playoff team once again, but this is a start. They needed a veteran quarterback and they got him.
