Broncos Mailbag: Does Alex Smith make most sense as veteran quarterback addition?
Alex #Alex
Denver Post Broncos writer Ryan O’Halloran posts his Broncos Mailbag periodically during the offseason. Submit questions to Ryan here.
Ryan, it would be more prudent/responsible/productive for the Broncos to forget Deshaun Watson, Russell Wilson, Andy Dalton and the rest, and go after Alex Smith. If he beats out Drew Lock, then let Drew sit and learn from Smith as Patrick Mahomes did in Kansas City. Smith will retire in a year or two, and a humbled Lock can take over. And if Lock beats Smith out, the team has a reliable backup in Smith.
— Dan Murphy, Kansas City, Mo.
The Broncos can easily pursue Smith while also monitoring the Watson saga in Houston. Smith turns 37 in May and was released by Washington last week.
His win-loss record as a starter is terrific — 99-67-1 in the regular season (2-5 in the playoffs). His decision-making is on-point — he hasn’t thrown more than eight interceptions in a season since 2010. And his story is legendary — missing the last six games of 2018 and all of ’19 due to a serious broken leg and coming back in 2020.
It would be sensible for the Broncos to reach out to Smith to see, if the price was right for both sides, whether or not he would be open to beginning 2021 as the backup to Lock. There should be concern about whether Smith could withstand a full 16-game schedule and I would look at him more as a great No. 2/mentor to Lock/pinch-hit starter.
It makes every ounce of sense for Smith to join his college coach, Urban Meyer, in Jacksonville to be Trevor Lawrence’s backup.
I’ve always liked quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. It sounds like Carolina is possibly interested in trading him. Do you think the Broncos have any interest?
— Christopher Evans, Berthoud
I do think the Broncos would have interest in Bridgewater via trade for a Day 3 pick (that would increase in value for Carolina should he play and win for the Broncos) or if he’s released.
I would view Bridgewater in the same light as Smith — a-break-in-case-of-emergency option should Lock get injured or falter.
Bridgewater signed a three-year, $63 million contract last March and he has a $17 million base salary for 2021 — way too much for the Broncos to consider paying even if they want him in an all-out Camp Quarterback Competition. In a trade, a re-working of his deal would be required.
Bridgewater, 28, has a 26-23 career record, but he was drafted by Minnesota in 2014 when current Broncos general manager George Paton was in the Vikings’ front office. Bridgewater’s career was derailed by a September 2016 knee injury.
Why don’t teams huddle up and call a couple of plays during commercial breaks? I would think it would be advantageous to be able to run back-to-back plays without having to huddle up and wear down the defense? Seems like it’s wasted time.
— Jan Leffers, Dayton, Ohio
The offseason is the perfect time for some off-topic questions like this one. I’m all for offenses running more up-tempo to start a drive because it allows them to dictate what personnel the defense has on the field.
To your question about calling back-to-back plays to start a drive, too many variables are at work. Let’s say the first-and-10 play results in a 10-yard penalty, five-yard sack, a 25-yard catch or a 45-yard run? The play-calling would be altered accordingly.
But yes, more no-huddle offense, please.
Ryan, do players have a clause in their contracts that void said contracts if found guilty of a crime? Obviously, thinking of Von Miller and the implications of the fallout of that happening.
–Allan Tremblay, Edmonton
This question is semi-moot after Miller was told last week he wouldn’t face charges following a review by the District Attorney’s office into the findings of a criminal case filed by the police in Parker.
But had Miller been charged and found guilty, the Broncos could have exercised the “conduct detrimental to the team” clause to void his guarantees and make it easier to escape his contract.
The activities that would trigger a voided contract include domestic violence, gun possession, steroids, crimes against law enforcement and conduct that poses a genuine danger to the safety of another person.
This clause could be used by the Broncos if running back Melvin Gordon is found guilty of driving under the influence stemming from his arrest last October.
Always enjoy reading your articles on the Broncos. The Rockies’ Ian Desmond is again opting out of this year due to COVID-19. With that, do you think the Broncos should foresee that Ja’Wuan James might opt out again this year? If so, should they concentrate on getting an offensive lineman in the first round instead of getting a defensive back? But what happens if there is a quarterback waiting at No. 9 that the new GM is intrigued by?
— Del, Lamar
The Broncos’ brain-trust told the media last week that they have been in contact with James about returning to the right tackle spot this year.
In MLB, Desmond’s two years of his Rockies contract disappears by him opting out because he wasn’t deemed a high-risk individual for coronavirus. A baseball player in that situation also doesn’t get service time credited to him, which doesn’t impact Desmond because he became a free agent years ago. Younger MLB players who opted out last year basically delayed their first free agent season by a year.
In James’ case, his contract was frozen — his initial 2020 cap charge was forwarded ahead to 2021.
The Broncos will have to know, if they don’t already, that James intends to play this year, which will allow them to focus on their defensive needs. But if a quarterback they like is on the board at No. 9? That could change everything.
Would it make more sense to build a “great” offensive line to protect whichever quarterback is behind center, like Tom Brady is protected?
— Jody L. Busch, McPherson, Kan.
I think the Broncos are on the right track with the offensive line, both among the starting group and some of the depth they’ve developed.
The Broncos are set at left tackle (Garett Bolles), left guard (Dalton Risner), center (Lloyd Cushenberry) and right guard (Graham Glasgow). As previously noted, they expect James to play right tackle this year.
Guard Netane Muti and left tackle Calvin Anderson received solid reviews internally for their progress in 2020. It will be important for Anderson to get steady work at right tackle in camp.
Pass protection wasn’t the problem last year — the Broncos allowed only 32 sacks (nine in one game) and Lock was sacked only 19 times in more than 450 drop-backs.