DENVER — It’s not just starting quarterbacks who are playing the game of free-agency musical chairs.
Case Keenum is headed from Washington to Cleveland. Chase Daniel agreed to terms with the Lions after a stint with the Bears. And with the Lions moving on from Jeff Driskel, he found his new home Tuesday — with the Broncos.
What does Driskel bring?
THE IMPACT ON JOE FLACCO
Driskel’s arrival leaves no room for Joe Flacco to return for a second Broncos season, even as a backup.
There was little doubt that the Broncos would part ways with Flacco. The potential salary-cap savings of $10.05 million and the going rate for veteran backup quarterbacks ensured that the Broncos would gain some needed space, even with $13.6 million of dead money.
The ratification of the new collective bargaining agreement now gives the Broncos the freedom of spreading out the dead-money hit over multiple years if they release him with a post-June 1 designation. Denver can also effectively use the savings toward the rookie contracts of the team’s draft class.
WHY DRISKEL FITS WITH DREW LOCK
First of all, Driskel is a clear No. 2. He provides eight games of starting experience with the Bengals and Lions over the last two seasons, and his play with Detroit in 2019 — particularly in guiding the Lions to 27 points in a loss to Dallas — offered a hint that he can be a viable long-term backup that can steady an offense for a few weeks.
In three games after replacing the injured Matthew Stafford last season, Driskel led the Lions offense to an average of 18.7 points per game. That doesn’t move the needle until you consider that the Lions offense mustered just 14.8 points per game with David Blough at quarterback.
There is a clear gap between the promise and potential of Lock and Driskel. Lock’s completion percentage, average per attempt, touchdown-to-interception ratio, first-down rate and sack rate all are better than those of Driskel.
But while not carbon copies of each other, they share striking similarities.
They are both 6-foot-4. Driskel is 234 pounds; Lock is 228 pounds. They share straight-line speed, raw arm talent and a penchant for escaping the pocket. Among the 60 quarterbacks with at least 100 statistical plays — pass attempts, rushing attempts and times sacked — over the last two years, Driskel and Lock are among the 23 passers who take off and run at least 10 percent of the time.
Lock can make plays happen with his feet, and averaged a solid 4.0 yards per carry last year. But Driskel is an explosive runner; his average of 6.0 yards per carry the last two seasons ranks fifth with among those 60 quarterbacks with 100 or more statistical snaps. Driskel’s 40-yard dash time of 4.56 seconds at the 2016 Combine is also the second-best of any quarterback in the past five years. He is a true dual-threat quarterback if the need arises.
The Broncos don’t have to change their offense if Driskel fills in for Lock, and this is part of what a team seeks in an ideal starter-backup dynamic.
THE IMPACT ON THE REST OF THE QB ROOM
The Broncos chose not to offer a tender to Brandon Allen, who started three games last November with diminishing returns as teams gathered more regular-season film on him. Denver could bring back Allen, but his primary attribute — scheme familiarity — is out the window as Denver transitions to offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur’s iteration of the West Coast scheme.
Driskel is a clear No. 2 ahead of Brett Rypien. According to sources, Rypien and Lock have an excellent relationship, with the undrafted 2019 rookie providing plenty of assistance to Lock as he prepared for his starts last season. But Rypien’s hopes of securing a roster spot hinge upon the Broncos deciding to keep three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster instead of two.
Denver could also add a late-round or undrafted rookie quarterback to compete with Rypien.
