By Jordan Long
The Denver Broncos agreed to a contract with quarterback Jeff Driskel. It will be 2 years but the financial terms of the contract haven’t been announced. Driskel is expected to be the backup to Drew Lock. This closes the door on any possibility of Denver re-signing quarterback Brandon Allen and ends the Joe Flacco era in Denver.
Driskel has been in the NFL since 2016 playing for 3 teams, the San Francisco 49ers, Cincinnati Bengals, and the Detroit Lions. He started 8 games in his career. His record is a disappointing 1-7.
Last year Driskel was with the Detroit Lions. His record there was a 0-3. Driskel was able to find his open receivers to move the chains with 685 yards. Most of these passes were in the middle of the field. Driskel’s average yards per pass was 6.5. He tossed 4 touchdowns but Driskel wasn’t able to read the defenses with 4 interceptions. It didn’t help that he was running for his life because the Lions offensive line couldn’t block for him which allowed him to be sacked 11 times. In his career, Driskel tossed for 1,688 yards and 10 touchdowns with 6 interceptions.
Denver knew they had a few options at the backup position. They could have agreed to a new deal with Brandon Allen which would have made the most sense. Allen started 3 games for Denver before Drew Lock took over. Last year, Allen started 3 games with a record of 1-2 which is slightly better than Driskel’s 0-3. Allen was better at protecting the football with 2 interceptions. His touchdowns were less with only 3.
With the new agreement, Denver is going to move on from Joe Flacco. Denver traded for Flacco last offseason, hoping he would be the starter for the next few years. It didn’t work out. Flacco appeared in 8 games for Denver before he was shut down due to a herniated disc. Rumors are Denver is either going to cut Flacco or trade him. Cutting him saves Denver $10.3 million in salary cap for this season which is probably the best solution. Another team could sign him to a contract they feel is fair.
Denver might try to trade him even if it is for a 5th-round pick. The hold up in a trade is the money Flacco has left on his contract. He is owed $20.25 million this year and $24.250 million in 2021. If another team acquires him, they will need to rework the deal so the money isn’t as much.
Denver is set at the quarterback position going into 2020. John Elway must do more in free agency to help this team win. Free agency officially opens up today at 2 P.M. Mountain Time.
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