NFL Draft 2019 Denver Broncos Day 2 Picks

All we are saying is give Lock a chance.

It’s tempting to unload on the selection of Drew Lock, not only did Denver trade two picks for it, they chose a quarterback that has had lukewarm at best run from draft prognosticators.  We’ve seen repeatedly what “project” quarterbacks look like for the Broncos and it’s hard to overcome the feeling that we’ve drafted another Brock Osweiler or Paxton Lynch, which would be par for John Elway‘s quarterback flailings.

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Instead, let’s try to focus on the possibilities that Lock brings to the table for the Broncos.

Before we get to his abilities, it’s important to note that John Elway has already designated Lock a “backup” and that Denver has also signed an undrafted free-agent QB in Boise State’s Brett Rypien. Rypien, on paper performed slightly better in his four-year career with the Broncos than Lock did with the Tigers.  It’s close but the statistical edge goes to Brett.  Lock is 6’4″ while Rypien is 6’2″.  For comparison, Joe Flacco, the Broncos current starter is 6’6″.

What people envision for Lock is a year or two behind Flacco to develop accuracy and footwork.  He has elite arm talent but can lapse into funks of inaccuracy.  His mechanics are good but his feet are slow and he’s susceptible to pocket pressure.  Those are huge red flags for an NFL prospect but that analysis should also be taken with the appropriate gravity.  First, talent evaluators are tasked with finding deficiencies and they can tend to magnify minor issues.

Where Lock excels, beyond his arm talent is in his ability to grasp, big-picture style, defensive schemes and edge rush pressure.  While he struggles with moving his feet out of the pocket, he is a decent runner and doesn’t take a lot of edge sacks.  He is adept at looking off safeties and cycles through targets rapidly, not allowing defensive backs to jump routes.  That’s all from his scouting report and what it says in a nutshell is that he’s smart.

In the end that may be what separates Lock from past QB failures for the Denver Broncos. Lock has a big arm and the right mind, the rest of it can be taught and the Broncos have a great teacher in new offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello. So, while the pick may look like all that have come before it, there’s an upside to Lock that also shows growth in the Broncos ability to evaluate.  Joe Flacco will not take the Broncos to the playoffs but Drew Lock just may.