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ENGLEWOOD, Colo .– As for the immediate future of Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock, new general manager George Paton will be both judge and jury.
Paton, who was officially featured in his new post on Tuesday, faces some important items on his immediate to-do list, with a decision on whether or not Lock is the starter in 2021 and beyond, all the way up. And that’s a decision Paton must, at least initially, make on his own.
“The best way for George is to assess [Lock] himself and not have myself, [offensive coordinator] Tap [Shurmur] or [quarterbacks coach] Mike [Shula] influence his thinking, “said Broncos coach Vic Fangio.” Let him take a sterile and impartial look. We can get back together and he can express his opinions based on what he has seen. We can answer a few questions for him. … [But] it is better for him to form his own opinion without the influence of me or the other coaches. “
Lock, in his first full season as a starter, has shown his potential at times, especially down the stretch, including his four TD day Dec.13 against the Carolina Panthers and his 339-yard, two-yard day. affected in the season finale. But he also finished last year among the league’s starting quarterbacks in completion percentage (57.3) and tied for most interceptions (15), with the Broncos having the worst number margin of. league affairs (under-16).
The Broncos, who started nine different quarterbacks since halfway through the 2017 season and also started running back Phillip Lindsay behind center against New Orleans this season due to COVID-19 issues, missed the playoffs in each of the past five seasons. They haven’t finished above the 19th score since 2014 and have finished 28th in each of the past two years.
“I liked Drew coming out of the draft – big arm, athletic, playmaker,” Paton said. “I haven’t studied him. I haven’t tried many tapes. I’ve only been here four days. I’ve watched enough tapes to know he’s talented and can be develop.”
Paton, who came to the Broncos after 14 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, the last nine as the team’s assistant general manager, has the final decision on the Broncos roster, draft and free agency. . He noted on Tuesday the importance of “stability” in the quarterback for a team that has had little of that behind center since Peyton Manning retired.
He also said the Broncos would explore all avenues to improve the position by evaluating Lock.
“The quarterback is the most important position in the sport. If you don’t have stability in the quarterback, you’re going to have a hard time maintaining the victory,” said Paton. “I think we all want the franchise quarterback, and that’s the # 1 goal is to try to draft and develop or acquire in any way we can. ”
Broncos president of football operations John Elway, who stepped down as general manager and was a key figure in the hiring of Paton, said he would give his opinion on Lock to Paton, but that Paton had actually the last call. Elway said he continues to love Lock’s potential, but Lock needs to get the job done this offseason.
“I’m still on Drew; he has the physical capabilities to do it,” Elway said Tuesday. “We will continue to review this position – you still are – and look at the opportunities you have. George will go through this whole process, and if there is any way for us to improve in this position. And better than we do. don’t think so, then George will make that decision … I still think Drew is a young man. He has shown flashes this year, but he made mistakes. Young quarterbacks always make mistakes. I made a million mistakes my first two or three years, but that’s how you can learn from it. “
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