Having a few options & leverage is Key in any trade situation

Perhaps most important is that it makes the Broncos not desperate for the quarterback position, or at least less desperate, when the first round is rolls around. Before, especially with Keenum, the Broncos would have been in a really rough spot in terms of leverage in any trade negotiations.

A starving man would be willing to surrender all sorts of riches to sate his hunger, but the Broncos with Flacco at least have a loaf of bread they can nibble on instead of ponying up in a trade up for the food of their choice. Instead of being desperate for ‘their’ quarterback, the Broncos now have options and don’t have to play ball for a quarterback if the price is ridiculous.

However, this does not in any way mean that the Broncos are ‘out’ on quarterback round one either, or that they won’t trade up for their guy. If the guy they like falls to pick 10, great. If they can get a trade up for a price they deem reasonable, fine. If for some reason the Draft doesn’t work out the way they would like and a quarterback they love enough to take top-10 isn’t there, the franchise can at least stay afloat. It’s important to have options.

However, while it is important to keep their cards close to their chest in the game of the NFL Draft, perhaps trade for Flacco did reveal something. New offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello has stated he wants a quarterback who can run an offense under center for a majority of the reps, move around on designed bootlegs and roll-outs, and test teams vertically with a down the field pass game.

While Flacco won’t confuse anyone for being ‘mobile’ he had arguably his best year in the west coast offense under Gary Kubiak, whom the Broncos will run a variant of under Scangarello with more 11 personnel, less 12 and 21.