Drew Lock

When a team drafts a quarterback in the second round, there is always a hope that he will turn out to be the “franchise” quarterback. This is exactly what the Denver Broncos are hoping for with Drew Lock.

Lock was drafted as the 42nd overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. He was highly rated coming out of Missouri, where he set SEC records for passing yards and touchdowns. He had a lot of potential, but there were some concerns about his accuracy and decision-making.

In his rookie season, Lock only played in five games, and he had his ups and downs. He showed flashes of potential, but he also had some rookie mistakes. He threw seven touchdowns and three interceptions, and he had a passer rating of 89.7. Overall, he showed promise, but he still has a lot to prove.

Enter the 2020 season, where Lock had his chance to prove himself as the Broncos’ starting quarterback. The season didn’t start off well for him, as he suffered a shoulder injury in the second game of the season. He missed two games, and when he returned, he struggled. He threw two touchdowns and seven interceptions in his first six games, and the Broncos had a record of 3-5.

However, in the second half of the season, Lock started to show why the Broncos drafted him. He finished the season with 16 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, and he had a passer rating of 75.4. It’s not an impressive stat line, but it’s important to note that he was working with a depleted offense. His top three receivers, Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, and KJ Hamler, all missed multiple games due to injury.

Despite the injuries, Lock showed flashes of what he can do. In Week 14, he led the Broncos to an upset victory over the Carolina Panthers, where he threw for 280 yards and four touchdowns. He also had impressive performances against the Kansas City Chiefs and the Las Vegas Raiders.

So, what does the future hold for Drew Lock? The Broncos had a solid draft, where they added more weapons for Lock. They drafted Jerry Jeudy in the first round, KJ Hamler in the second round, and Albert Okwuegbunam in the fourth round. They also signed Melvin Gordon in free agency, who will provide a boost to the running game.

The Broncos’ offense has a lot of potential, but it all falls on Lock’s shoulders. He needs to take a step forward in his development and show that he can be a consistent quarterback. He needs to improve his decision-making, his accuracy, and his ability to read defenses.

Lock is still a young player, and he has time to improve. However, if he fails to show that he can be a franchise quarterback, the Broncos will be forced to look for a new quarterback in the next draft. It’s a make-or-break season for Lock, but he has the talent to take the Broncos’ offense to the next level.

In conclusion, Drew Lock has the potential to be a franchise quarterback for the Denver Broncos. He showed flashes of what he can do in his rookie season, and he improved in the second half of the 2020 season. However, he still has a lot to prove, and he needs to take a step forward in his development. The Broncos have given him the weapons he needs to succeed, and it’s now up to Lock to show that he can be the quarterback they need.