Buckle up.
Have those Twitter alerts at the ready.
We’re entering another offseason of rampant, unbridled Denver Broncos quarterback speculation.
Bring on the rumors, insider reports and unnamed sources.
Yep, here we go again.
Broncos: Eighth-best Super Bowl odds?
It starts with the odds to win next year’s Super Bowl.
And it’s all right there in the familiar white-and-green-on-black scheme of DraftKings Colorado Sportsbook.
Those indulging in some Colorado Super Bowl betting may have noticed that your Broncos — yes, the league’s-second-longest-active-playoff-drought Broncos — currently are tied for the eighth-best odds to win Super Bowl LVII next Feb. 12 in Glendale, Ariz.
They’re sitting at +1,500. Yes, that’s 15-1.
Those are the fourth-highest odds in the 16-team AFC.
The second-best odds in the AFC West.
And equal or better odds than half of this season’s 14 playoff teams.
Teams with longer odds include the likes of the Baltimore Ravens (+1,800), Tennessee Titans (+2,000), New England Patriots (+2,200), Arizona Cardinals (+2,500) and Los Angeles Chargers (+2,500).
But why?
How?
What’s all hubbub and hoopla over a Broncos franchise that hasn’t had a winning season since 2016? Or high-level 21st-century NFL quarterback play since the first half of the 2014 campaign?
It’s not about the Star Wars soundbites from new head coach Nathaniel Hackett.
It is all about the potential additions the offseason may bring to the Mile High City’s pro football club.
Familiar QBs potentially in play once again
Aaron Rodgers. Russell Wilson. Deshaun Watson.
Those are the key quarterback names potentially in play for general manager George Paton and Broncos this offseason.
And if these scenarios sound rather familiar, it’s because they are.
Rodgers, the likely back-to-back NFL MVP, received a restructured contract from the Green Bay Packers last offseason. That makes it easier for him and the team to part ways this spring or summer — if he so desires.
And he just might.
Same goes for Wilson who could seek a trade after a decade with the Seattle Seahawks.
Despite reports of disgruntlement a year ago, Rodgers and Wilson both wound up back at their respective helms in 2021. But both quarterbacks saw their seasons end in deeply disappointing fashion.
Despite earning the NFC’s top seed for the second straight year, Green Bay fell short of the Super Bowl for the 16th time in Rodgers’ 17 seasons on the frozen tundra.
The Seahawks, meanwhile, endured their first losing season (7-10) and missed the playoffs for the second time in Wilson’s 10 years in the Pacific Northwest.
A change of scenery for either QB — or both — seemingly is closer than ever.
Denver would appear to be even more attractive to Rodgers than it was a year ago with Hackett, his offensive coordinator of the last three seasons, now running the show in Dove Valley.
Oh, and the DK 2023 Super Bowl odds for the Packers and Seahawks? Try +1500 and +3500, respectively.
As for Watson’s situation with the Houston Texans — and the NFL for that matter — it’s half mystery, half enigma.
Embroiled in off-the-field personal and legal troubles, Watson didn’t suit up for a game, let alone play a snap for the Texans in 2021.
Still tantalizingly talented and young at age 26, Watson would certainly would be a QB prize among QB prizes.
But mum has been the word for a long while now from all the key parties involved in his ugly situation: Watson, the Texans, the league and the legal arena.
And there’s no telling when — or most importantly, how — the situation will be resolved.
Denver in desperate need of offensive punch
Offense is king in the modern NFL.
In the 2020 season, teams averaged an all-time high 24.8 points and 359 yards of total offense per game.
Those numbers were down slightly in 2021, dipping to 23.0 points and 343.6 total yards, but they were both still top-10 all-time season averages.
The Broncos, though, seemed to have missed that memo. They might not even be on the mailing list.
In each of the last six seasons since QB Peyton Manning retired, the Broncos have ranked 22nd or lower of out of the league’s 32 teams in points per game. They’ve also ranked in the league’s bottom half (17th or lower) each year in total yards per contest.
Over that cumulative six-season span, Denver has averaged 19.5 points (29th in the league) and 327.0 total yards (26th) per game.
In terms of total passing yards during that span, the Broncos and their rotating carousel of QBs rank 27th with 20,872 (3,478.7 per year, 215.2 per game).
It’s even worse when we talk total passing touchdowns.
Denver QBs have thrown only 115 scoring passes since 2016. Only the New York Jets have had fewer with 108.
That’s bad.
Depressingly bad.
And those who have partaken in any Broncos betting know the numbers all too well.
It even looks worse when considering that the Broncos have surrendered the NFL’s ninth-fewest points (21.8 per game) over those six seasons.
Yet, no playoffs for six straight seasons. And no winning seasons among the last five.
Only the (yes, again) Jets have longer such futility droughts (11 and six) in each category.
That’s exactly why the Broncos are in the QB market again.
And it’s why this dominant-turned-desperate franchise will be linked to almost any and all decent available quarterbacks this offseason.
So buckle in, Broncos Country.
And be prepared for a QB Rumorpalooza.
Here we go … again.
