Kiz: Wow, that was quick. Who knew the Super Bowl parade led straight out of town? Peyton Manning? Retired. Brock Osweiler? Gone to Houston without even a proper goodbye. Malik Jackson? Got paid in Jacksonville. Danny Trevathan? See ya. Have I missed anybody? How could the Broncos let them all go? Forget the Super Bowl. I’m not sure what’s left of this team can win the AFC West in 2016.
Renck: Last one left turn out the lights. In all seriousness, Osweiler represented the only surprise. Houston made it easy for Osweiler to leave with $37 million guaranteed, seven more than the Broncos. I can appreciate general manager John Elway backing away from the table. The team’s ability to win a sixth-straight AFC West crown rests on the offense. If it improves dramatically, Denver will fend off all contenders.
Kiz: I think the Broncos made the right move by letting Osweiler walk at $18 million per year. But, given Osweiler’s obvious disenchantment with the negotiations, I wonder if Elway waited too long to move on in search of the team’s next quarterback. Denver is now shopping from a position of weakness, as either an agent or a trade partner knows the Broncos are desperate for a quarterback. Mark Sanchez? Yuck.
Renck: Not since the 2000 Baltimore Ravens has a Super Bowl champion lost the top two quarterbacks on its depth chart. Sanchez is a bridge quarterback, ideally a backup who provides experience. I am not sure Colin Kaepernick makes sense. Chemistry matters. The next QB has to fit in here. I would expect the Broncos to bring in another veteran, then draft a quarterback in the first three rounds. It’s not sexy, but this could be a transition season at the position.
Kiz: OK, there’s no reason to panic in March. Von Miller is the superstar who won Super Bowl 50, and he’s the man that gives the Broncos hope again in 2016. The odds are long of any team repeating as league champion. I would have given Denver a 10 percent chance to go back-to-back a week ago. Now it’s no more than 5 percent. Elway has his work cut out for him.
Renck: There’s no shame in not repeating as a defending champ in a salary cap sport. Hasn’t been done since the New England Patriots in the 2003-2004 seasons. The Broncos remind me of the San Francisco Giants. Keep score low, throw in a few timely hits. The Giants have perfected the formula, even if they do it every other year. If the Broncos can feature a top 10 offense, which means a top-five running game and the return of stardom for Demaryius Thomas, they will be very dangerous. The odds are against it. But they won a Super Bowl last season with a dismal passing attack and a league-high 23 interceptions.
