football-player football-score football-helmet football-ball Accuracy Arm-Strength Balance Ball-Security Ball-Skills Big-Play-Ability Block-Deconstruction Competitive-Toughness Core-Functional-Strength Decision-Making Discipline Durability Effort-Motor Elusivness Explosiveness Football-IQ Footwork Functional-Athleticism Hand-Counters Hand-Power Hand-Technique Hands Lateral-Mobility Leadership Length Mechanics Mobility Pass-Coverage-Ability Pass-Protection Pass-Sets Passing-Down-Skills Pocket-Manipulation Poise Power-at-POA Progressions RAC-Ability Range Release-Package Release Route-Running Run-Defending Separation Special-Teams-Ability-1 Versatility Vision Zone-Coverage-Skills Anchor-Ability Contact-Balance Man-Coverage-Skills Tackling Lifted Logic Web Design in Kansas City clock location phone email play chevron-down chevron-left chevron-right chevron-up facebook tiktok checkbox checkbox-checked radio radio-selected instagram google plus pinterest twitter youtube send linkedin search arrow-circle bell left-arrow right-arrow tdn-mark filled-play-circle yellow-arrow-circle dark-arrow-circle star cloudy snowy rainy sunny plus minus triangle-down link close drag minus-circle plus-circle pencil premium trash lock simple-trash simple-pencil eye cart
NFL Draft

What’s Broncos’ 2021 Record With Aaron Rodgers vs Drew Lock?

  • The Draft Network
  • May 18, 2021
  • Share

The Denver Broncos have had an incredible offseason if you ask me. 

They retained some of their top talents like Von Miller, Justin Simmons, Shelby Harris, and Kareem Jackson. The Broncos also made key additions with Ronald Darby and Kyle Fuller, addressing what many would have considered their biggest area of need this offseason. Plus, Courtland Sutton will be back as an added addition as the No. 1 wide receiver Denver missed all but one game in 2020 due to an ACL injury.

Denver’s draft class is about as strong as it could’ve asked for. The Broncos started off strong at the top with cornerback Patrick Surtain II. On Day 2, they added Javonte Williams, Quinn Meinerz, and Baron Browning. Throw in some late-draft gems like Kary Vincent Jr., Seth Williams, and Jamar Johnson—at least by The Draft Network’s Big Board standards—and it’s hard to imagine a better return during the draft for Denver.

If there’s one big gripe with the Broncos’ draft, and offseason in general, it would be that they didn’t really upgrade their quarterback spot. Drew Lock is the incumbent, and where there is still reason to have some faith that he could improve off a pedestrian 2020, he didn’t give a big vote of confidence to his coaching staff. The team traded a late-round pick for veteran Teddy Bridgewater, but even if Bridgewater were to beat out Lock, you can’t really expect him to be much better than a mid-tier quarterback at best.

What many people will point to with Denver was that they had a chance to draft Ohio state quarterback Justin Fields at No. 9 in the first round instead of Surtain. Clearly, a quarterback wasn’t on the table for them there, but maybe that’s because they have their eyes set on a different passer: Aaron Rodgers. The NFL Network's Ian Rapoport mentioned the Broncos specifically as a potential destination for Rodgers. Rapoport did so also saying that the Broncos not drafting a quarterback was not unrelated to Rodgers potentially being on the market.

When looking at this Broncos’ roster, it’s hard to find many areas of weakness. They have a strong young receiving group, tight ends included; a veteran running back plus a young, hungry one; a stout interior defensive line and top tier edge rushers; and a very talented secondary. I didn’t mention the offensive line because with Ju’Wuan James now off the team following a torn Achilles suffered during an offseason workout, there is some question there; but Denver has Garett Bolles, Dalton Risner, Meinerz as a developmental player, and Lloyd Cushenberry III to have a bounce-back year.

So, what would Rodgers do for this Broncos team? How much better are we talking here? Let’s first take a look at what TDN’s Brentley Weissman said when he predicted the Broncos record as the roster stands today: 

  • Week 1: @ Giants (L)
  • Week 2: @ Jaguars (L)
  • Week 3: vs. Jets (W)
  • Week 4: vs. Ravens (L)
  • Week 5: @ Steelers (L)
  • Week 6: vs. Raiders (W)
  • Week 7: @ Browns (W)
  • Week 8: vs. Washington (W)
  • Week 9: @ Cowboys (L)
  • Week 10: vs. Eagles (W)
  • Week 11: BYE
  • Week 12: vs. Chargers (W)
  • Week 13: @ Chiefs (L)
  • Week 14: vs. Lions (W)
  • Week 15: vs. Bengals (W)
  • Week 16: @ Raiders (L)
  • Week 17: @ Chargers (L)
  • Week 18: vs. Chiefs (W)

Record prediction: 9-8

A nine-win season would be the first time the Broncos have reached that mark since 2016. After finishing with just five wins last year and seven the year before, above .500 would be a welcomed sight.

Now, let’s look at this Broncos team with Rodgers and assess what the win-loss record could be.

  • Week 1: @ Giants (W)
  • Week 2: @ Jaguars (W)
  • Week 3: vs. Jets (W)
  • Week 4: vs. Ravens (L)
  • Week 5: @ Steelers (W)
  • Week 6: vs. Raiders (L)
  • Week 7: @ Browns (L)
  • Week 8: vs. Washington (W)
  • Week 9: @ Cowboys (W)
  • Week 10: vs. Eagles (W)
  • Week 11: BYE
  • Week 12: vs. Chargers (W)
  • Week 13: @ Chiefs (W)
  • Week 14: vs. Lions (W)
  • Week 15: vs. Bengals (W)
  • Week 16: @ Raiders (W)
  • Week 17: @ Chargers (W)
  • Week 18: vs. Chiefs (L)

Record prediction: 13-4

Obviously adding the league’s MVP is going to make a massive difference; we’re talking 13 or 14 wins. If the Broncos added Rodgers, they wouldn't just become instantly competitive for a division title; and they’d be in line for an AFC Championship and a potential Super Bowl berth. That’s all while being in the same division and conference as Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes.

To get Rodgers, the Broncos would have to give up some key players and major draft picks, even with Rogers forcing the Packers' hand—he’s that good. I’ve seen proposals that included trading Jerry Jeudy, Shelby Harris, two first-round selections, and two second-round picks. I don’t know how close the final deal would be to that, but I imagine the Packers would demand two good players and at least two premium picks (likely first-round selections). It’s a high price, but one that would be worth it. 

Filed In

Related Articles

Written By

The Draft Network