Denver Broncos’ Full Position Breakdown and Depth-Chart Analysis at Quarterback

The Denver Broncos have to do what most Super Bowl winners don’t have to worry about the year after a championship is won; they have to find a new quarterback. Like the 2000 Baltimore Ravens, who won it all but didn’t bring Trent Dilfer or Tony Banks back the next season, the Broncos have to find a new starting quarterback with their top two passers from the previous season gone.

Earlier this year, future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning decided to retire. It was a move that was not unexpected as Manning’s play fell off during the 2015 season. The Broncos seemed to be ready with Brock Osweiler waiting in the wings behind him, but things didn’t turn out that way.

Instead of staying with the Broncos after four years of developing behind Manning, Osweiler chose to move on in free agency and signed with the Houston Texans. This move was unexpected, and it caused a situation for the Broncos that we don’t normally see with a defending Super Bowl champion.

The Broncos made a couple of moves at the position to create competition in training camp. In those two transactions, they were able to add a veteran with starting experience and a rookie who could be their franchise quarterback.

Here is the full position breakdown and depth-chart analysis of the quarterbacks on the Broncos roster.

Starter: Mark Sanchez

The Broncos traded a conditional seventh-round pick in 2017 to the Philadelphia Eagles for veteran quarterback Mark Sanchez earlier this year. He may not be the most exciting option for the Broncos, but his starting experience and low price tag ($4.5 million salary in 2016) made him a sound addition.

Sanchez wasn’t a great fit for the Eagles offense, but he does have the athleticism required to shine in head coach Gary Kubiak’s offense. He also has experience in this style of offense from his college days at USC. Sanchez can make good decisions with the football if he’s not constantly under duress. The Broncos’ revamped offensive line should help keep Sanchez safe in 2016.

It’s early in the offseason, but tight end Virgil Green has already established strong chemistry with Sanchez.

“It’s great. He’s very vocal. I feel like he’s a great leader. I like the way he throws the ball. I like the way he moves.” Green continued his praise of the veteran quarterback, “He has a nice, tight spiral. He’s a smart guy, and that’s what you look for in a quarterback.”

Sanchez has taken to his opportunity with the Broncos. He’s already working with his receivers outside of the training facility as he set up a passing camp earlier this year in California.

Never before has Sanchez had such an opportunity. Most will remember him early in his pro career when he was with the New York Jets after being the team’s first-round pick in the 2009 NFL draft. For those first two seasons, Sanchez led the Jets to the AFC Championship Game each year on the back of a great defense and (mostly) mistake-free football on offense.

Even during those salad days with the Jets, Sanchez never had a single 1,000-yard receiver. Now, he’s likely to start on a team that has not one, but two such receivers in Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders.

Renewed vigor, a realization of this opportunity and better weapons could see Sanchez rack …

continue reading in source www.bleacherreport.com