Denver Post Broncos writer Ryan O’Halloran posts his Broncos Mailbag periodically during the season. Submit questions to Ryan here.
The Broncos just need a veteran quarterback. Your thoughts?
— Jeff, Granger, Ind.
Yes, the Broncos need to upgrade at quarterback and we all expect general manager George Paton to go on a big-name pursuit. Make it six different Week 1 starters in as many years, but don’t try and piecemeal it.
But the Broncos aren’t just a franchise quarterback away, a fact that has crystallized during the current stretch of four losses in five games that dropped them out of playoff contention.
Just on offense, the line needs to be thoroughly examined. Center? Right guard? Right tackle? Left guard? The Broncos must be better next year.
On defense, what is the Broncos’ plan at inside linebacker, outside linebacker and the safety who will start opposite Justin Simmons?
With all this talk of Denver possibly looking for a replacement for Vic Fangio, why hasn’t Eric Bieniemy’s name been mentioned?
— Larry Gombos, Littleton
If I’m putting together a hot board for a potential Broncos opening, my two main priorities are previous head-coaching experience and/or previous play-calling experience. That has undoubtedly hindered Bieniemy’s pursuit of a head-coaching job. He is the Kansas City Chiefs’ offensive coordinator, but coach Andy Reid calls the plays.
Do you think anyone from this coaching staff stays another season? I wouldn’t mind having offensive line coach Mike Munchak back next year. I couldn’t care less about the rest of them.
— Ron, Parker
Ron brings up an interesting subplot for later this month if Fangio is fired. What does general manager George Paton think of the position coaches?
Munchak has coached the offensive line for three years and if he is a fit for the new coach and coordinator, my guess is he will be invited to remain.
Paton has publicly praised receivers coach Zach Azzanni throughout the season and defensive backs coach Christian Parker is well-respected among his peers and players. Keeping them should be a priority as well as running backs coach Curtis Modkins.
Why does nobody seem to talk about Kenny Pickett? Both the Giants and Jets have two top-10 picks. Could they be potential trade partners so the Broncos could move up to get him? One mock draft I follow has him going to Carolina at No. 7. I’d mortgage the farm to get Pickett!
— Chris Goodwin, Boulder
I’ve probably mentioned Pickett in this space before and once the season ends, I’ll shift into draft mode to discuss him.
Pickett went 33-16 as the Pittsburgh starter and threw 81 touchdowns and 32 interceptions.
The Broncos have five picks in rounds 1-3, so if Paton starts the draft with all those chips, he does have the ability to move up two or three spots for Pickett or another player.
The old saying is if a receiver has his hands on the ball, it is catchable. Against Las Vegas, Jerry Jeudy looked to spike the ball and Albert Okwuegbunam’s late drop was tough but potentially catchable. Vic Fangio said he deserves to come back next year. If he is retained, then Pat Shurmur must be fired! If George Paton can change the coaching staff before the potential sale of the team, he needs to do it.
— Victor, Alameda, Calif.
Victor filed this question after the Raiders loss, when Drew Lock’s first start was plagued by a season-high four dropped passes. I was surprised Fangio didn’t get critical of the receivers on those plays.
If Fangio is retained, I do expect coaching staff changes.
The ownership situation will not impact the Broncos’ offseason business.
Has a team’s defense ever sued the offense for lack of support? Should the Broncos’ defense set that precedent? Also, whatap the latest timetable on the ownership situation?
— Dan Rish, Albuquerque, N.M.
Dan gets an early 2022 award for making me laugh. If we were in The Open Locker Room Era of covering the NFL, it would be fun to take the temperature of the defensive players about what they think of the offense.
There is no timetable on the Broncos’ ownership situation. Everything is in a holding pattern until a Denver judge rules on the right-of-first-refusal claim by the estate of former owner Edgar Kaiser.
Why hasn’t George Paton fired Vic Fangio, who is blaming others instead of taking the hit? I’m broken inside and it still hurts to feel like this. If Paton has any love for the team he has to fire this coach. Please! Get it done.
— Isaac, Orange County, Calif.
I’ll push back a bit on Fangio blaming everybody but himself. I don’t think he’s been out-of-line critical about the players, either.
Firing Fangio at this point wouldn’t create much of a Broncos competitive advantage because all general managers are allowed to do so far is have two-hour video conferences with candidates if there is an opening. Jacksonville has started its process, but Las Vegas hasn’t because the Raiders are in playoff contention.
Letap say Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson are completely off the board for us this offseason (frankly, because I think they are). Whatap the best-case scenario for our quarterback situation? My fear is we’re going to go into training camp with Drew Lock battling a veteran journeyman (again) like Nick Foles or Ryan Fitzpatrick. Do we actually pull the trigger for a first-round quarterback?
— Robbie P., Fort Collins
For Paton, I would like to ask two questions if I knew I could get a 100% transparent response: 1. How confident is he about trading for Wilson or Rodgers? 2. What is your Quarterback Plan B?
The second question is more interesting at this point since I believe the Broncos should be confident in acquiring Wilson or Rodgers.
Is Plan B signing a journeyman and pairing him with a second- or third-round quarterback? What is Lock’s future with the team? If Pickett is there late in the top 10, would the Broncos feel comfortable drafting him and playing him quickly?
The Broncos are in the business of winning games and presenting an entertainment product. Itap time to commit major resources to the quarterback position.
Denver Post Broncos writer Ryan O’Halloran posts his Broncos Mailbag periodically during the season. Submit questions to Ryan here.
