5. Johnny Manziel / Robert Griffin III / Colin Kaepernick
Do I have your attention now? I mean, if the Broncos really wanted to go in an entirely new direction, these three guys would accomplish just that.
And, sure, based off the last few seasons, this isn’t exactly the most impressive bunch of passers, but if you squint your eyes hard enough, you might just see a starting quarterback in need of a change in scenery.
Just think, it was only three years ago that Colin Kaepernick was a first-and-goal away from winning the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl! And it was just two years ago that he was a Richard Sherman-tipped pass away from reaching the Super Bowl for a second consecutive year. Are we sure that San Francisco isn’t just the absolute worst environment for a young quarterback?
And Robert Griffin III isn’t that much different. If you had asked every football fan in the world what kind of quarterback RGIII was going to develop into after his rookie season, you would have thought he’d already been gifted a gold jacket. Three years later, he’s the Redskins’ third stringer.
If nothing changes, it’ll go down as one of the most inexplicable career arcs in NFL history. But if there’s anybody who could revitalize RGIII, it’s Gary Kubiak, who helped teach Kyle Shanahan (RGIII’s coordinator during his rookie season) everything he knows.
Honestly, though, Johnny Manziel might be the most interesting of them all. The Browns have clearly given up on him; if they hadn’t, they wouldn’t have been doing everything in their power to start Josh McCown during a lost season. He hasn’t shown much, but he has shown flashes. Maybe that’s enough for the Broncos to take a chance.
If any of these guys were to come to Denver, it’d be through a trade, but their value is so low right now that John Elway should be able to bring them in on the cheap.
It could be fun …
