Could Trevor Siemian become the next draft afterthought to make an impact in the NFL as a quarterback? As a seventh-round pick in the 2015 draft, Siemian hardly played behind Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler as the Denver Broncos went all the way to Super Bowl 50, eventually winning the big game over the Carolina Panthers. But with Manning retired and Osweiler now with the Houston Texans, it looks like Broncos coach Gary Kubiak is leaning toward making Siemian the team’s number one guy at QB, with rookie Paxton Lynch and veteran Mark Sanchez at second and third-string respectively.
Siemian performs well in second straight preseason start
In Saturday night’s 17-9 win over the Los Angeles Rams, Siemian made his second straight start in the NFL preseason for the Broncos, and didn’t disappoint. He showed the poise of a much more experienced player as he threw for 122 yards on 10-for-17 passing, throwing one touchdown and one interception. Lynch, the 2016 first-round pick out of Memphis, played the second halfas Siemian’s backup, while Sanchez, the once-fancied fifth overall pick of the 2009 draft, did not see any action.
Speaking to media after the Rams game, Kubiak did not confirm anything with regards to his choice of starting quarterback for the regular season opener. But he did admit that he’s “got enough going on” to inform him on his decision, which may be made in the coming days.
Does Siemian have what it takes to be a capable NFL starter?
With two mostly untested youngsters and a veteran widely thought of to be a draft bust, there’s virtually no way the Broncos can replace Peyton Manning immediately. And that’s taking into account his advanced age and declining physical ability and performance in what turned out to be his 18th and last NFL season.
But given the current quarterback situation, one has to wonder whether Kubiak is making the right decision by starting someone who only saw action in one regular season play so far – a kneeldown.
Siemian’s college stats at Northwestern (7 TD, 11 INT in his senior season) don’t look particularly promising, but then again, we’ve seen it all too often in the past – teams getting blinded by a quarterback’s gaudy college numbers, only for him to turn out to be a draft bust.
And sometimes teams get too caught up in a QB’s physical ability, and likewise end up selecting a flop.
With that all said, Siemian could turn out better than his NCAA numbers suggest, thanks to his strong throwing arm and solid intangibles. But it may be way too much for anyone to expect him to be the next Tom Brady, Tony Romo, or Kurt Warner – a quarterback who slipped under the radar and became an NFL star despite being drafted very low, or not getting drafted at all.
