The Denver Broncos finished 7-9 in 2019 but come into the 2020 season with plenty of optimism with quarterback Drew Lock.
Drew Lock was largely an inactive player due to being on injury reserve. Lock came into the starting job ahead of Joe Flacco and Brandon Allen in week 13 against the Los Angeles Chargers in a 23-20 win.
A 38-24 win over the Houston Texans really announced Drew Lock to the NFL and he would go on to finish 4-1 in the five games he played for the Broncos.
Drew Lock turned Denver from 3-8 to 7-9 in his rookie 2019 season and the question remains whether he is the real deal or is Lock is being overhyped too early?
Drew Lock’s 4-1 stretch is of similar nature to Jimmy Garoppolo’s start to life in San Francisco. Garoppolo won all of his first five starts with the 49ers after being traded from the Patriots mid season in 2017. These were the last five games of the season and both Garoppolo and the 49ers were seen by many as a dark horse pick for the 2018 season.
This is the treatment Drew Lock and the Denver Broncos are getting this off season.
Drew Lock has had a good start to life in the NFL. Whilst i was not blown away by his performance in the combine or his college tape, he is certainly impressed me in his time in the NFL.
Drew Lock is not a scrambler but instead is a great passer of the ball and has a great arm strength.
You do not see Lock make the runs that we have seen with players such as Lamar Jackson, Russell Wilson and Deshaun Watson but you see him make great plays through his passing ability.
Using these numbers over the whole season, it would roughly work out as 3,468 passing yards, 23 passing touchdowns and 11 interceptions. This would signify a good full season.
It would not be up there with the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson or Tom Brady in his prime which is a reason for Broncos fans to be a little conservative going into 2020.
Drew Lock Still Has A Lot To Prove
Drew Lock however, has all the potential to get better and not every player goes into the league straight away and becomes the best. Peyton Manning went 3-13 in his first season in the NFL and is now considered one of the best quarterbacks in league history.
The Denver Broncos have given Drew Lock more weapons during the off season with their first two selections being wide receivers Jerry Jeudy out of Alabama and K.J. Hamler out of Penn State. Denver also added running back Melvin Gordon from the Los Angeles Chargers through free agency.
General manager John Elway and head coach Vic Fangio have certainly done all they can to help Drew Lock adjust to life in the NFL. Jeudy and Hamler will join a wide receiver room already featuring Courtland Sutton and Lock will also have the offensive options of tight end Noah Fant as as running back Phillip Lindsay who has had back to back 1,000 yard rushing seasons.
Overall, Lock certainly looks the deal. Whilst i believe he has all the potential to be one of the best in the league, i do feel that Broncos fans along with media personnel have to calm down on the Drew Lock hype as he has only played five games in the NFL. The more a quarterback plays, the more tape opposition teams have on them.
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