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2016 Denver Broncos Starting QB Expert Pick

2016 Denver Broncos Starting QB Expert Pick

Written by on August 9, 2016

NFL News and Rumors
The Denver Broncos have been spoiled at quarterback since 2012 because they had future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning under center since then and he’s only the greatest regular-season QB in NFL history who holds just about every major passing record. But Manning hung up his No. 18 after winning last season’s Super Bowl. He became the first starting QB to win a title with two different teams. So all eye on Broncos camp are on Mark Sanchez and Trevor Siemian as they battle to win the starting job to replace Manning. Sanchez certainly has to be considered the heavy favorite to do on NFL odds.

Let’s Take a Closer Look at the 2016 Denver Broncos Starting QB Expert Pick

Sanchez vs. Siemian Breakdown

Frankly, Siemian wasn’t even a very good college quarterback at Northwestern. That’s why he was the 250th overall pick in the 2015 draft. He played 44 games (14 starts) in his career at Northwestern, completing 550-of- 934 passes (58.9%) for 5,931 yards with 27 touchdowns and 24 interceptions in addition to rushing for six touchdowns. He can beat you with his feet. Siemian finished his career ranked fourth all-time at NU in career passing yardage (5,931), fourth in completions (550), sixth in total offense (5,908 yds.) and seventh passing touchdowns (27), despite only starting 14 games. He started 11 games during his senior season in 2014, completing 228-of- 392 passes (58.2%) 2,214 yards with seven touchdown and 11 interceptions in addition to rushing for five scores before missing the remainder of the season with a torn ACL. He got into one game last year as a rookie but didn’t attempt a pass. He rushed one time for negative-one yard. Mark Sanchez was a 2009 No. 5 overall pick by the Jets out of USC and led the Jets to two AFC title games. In his four seasons playing for the Jets, Sanchez produced a 37-31 overall record as a starter. He missed the entire 2013 season after suffering a preseason shoulder injury. Sanchez was signed by the Eagles as a free agent in 2014. He started 10 of 13 games played in his two seasons with the club, completing 257-of-400 passes (64.3 percent) for 3,034 yards with 18 touchdowns and 15 interceptions (86.6 rtg.). He set an Eagles franchise record with a 64.1 completion percentage (198-of- 309) in 2014 while throwing for at least 300 yards in four of his eight starts. The Broncos open the preseason on Thursday night in Chicago. Who will start? Good question. On the team’s first depth chart, Coach Gary Kubiak lists both guys as co-No. 1s. The designation fits their split reps and the early declaration by Kubiak, who has said throughout training camp that the two are neck-and-neck for the leading job. Rookie Paxton Lynch is No. 3. Kubiak said he will “probably” declare a starter for Thursday’s game on Tuesday, but made it clear playing time will continued to be shared among the quarterbacks. His choice for the first game is not necessarily an indicator of the likely starter for the regular-season opener against Carolina on Sept. 8 in a Super Bowl rematch. There were no surprises on the starting defense depth chart. DeMarcus Ware and Aqib Talib are listed as first-teamers even though they missed the first week and a half of training camp while on the non-football injured/illness lists. The Broncos are 1.5-point underdogs for the game in Chicago on NFL odds.

My Expert Pick

Regardless of who starts vs. the Bears, Sanchez will be under center Week 1. You don’t start a seventh-round pick with no regular-season experience against a team as good as Carolina.
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