DENVER, CO – AUGUST 19: Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock (3) during a preseason game between the Denver Broncos and the visiting San Francisco 49ers on August 19, 2019 at Broncos Stadium at Mile High in Denver, CO. (Photo by Russell Lansford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The presumed quarterback of the Broncos’ future may soon be the signal caller of their present. It’s possible that Drew Lock will start on Sunday.
When the Broncos spent a second round pick on Drew Lock in the 2019 NFL Draft, he immediately became the franchise’s quarterback of the future. On Sunday, it’s possible the former Missouri star will turn into Denver’s quarterback of the present.
The team’s head coach Vic Fangio admits that it’s possible that the second year player will be on his active roster this week. He also says it’s possible that Lock will be installed as his starting quarterback. The decision to put Joe Flacco on Injured Reserve has given Brandon Allen to make three consecutive starts.
Allen did manage to lead his team to victory in one of those three starts, but his cumulative quarterback rating of 68.3 as a starter makes it clear he isn’t the right player to lead the team moving forward. Fangio has never seemed to be an enthusiastic supporter of Lock, but he doesn’t have another internal option to turn to at the moment.
At the very least, putting Lock under center will raise the ceiling of the Broncos’ offense. There were concerns about his ability to help a team right away coming into the draft, but his arm strength was readily apparent on his collegiate tape. If he can handle the mental side of playing the position there’s a chance he can blossom into a quality starter in time.
None of that means high expectations should be placed on Lock right away when he does get the chance to play. It’s important for fans to remember that he has not taken a single snap in the regular season during his short career. The chances of him being overwhelmed in his first game are pretty high. Broncos fans should hope to see some glimpses of high potential from Lock early in his tenure, but consistency will likely evade him during his rookie campaign.
The real question is whether or not Denver is willing to give Lock the chance to permanently displace Flacco as the team’s starter. Fangio seems to learn towards a veteran quarterback, but the decision might be coming from the front office instead.
Lock may not play this Sunday, but his time is fast approaching. Broncos fans should plan on seeing their young quarterback on the field very soon.