I shared the single question results of the survey earlier: now I thought I’d look deeper at the results and take a look at the intersection of some responses. I won’t be able to cover all intersections by myself, so if you have some you’d like to see, let me know and I’ll crunch them for you and add them to the article.
Veteran quarterbacks
Kirk Cousins
- All but 8 of 150 Kirk Cousins supporters are willing to spend more than $20 million APY to get him. It’s a good sign that not that many fans are deluding themselves into thinking they can get that kind of bargain.
- A slim majority of Kirk Cousins supporters also support adding a rookie quarterback with a top five pick. This is a point I’d disagree with, as if the Broncos do what it takes to get him, they should be running on the assumption that he’s the guy for at least the next two seasons, and use #5 (if they have it) on another position.
- Majorities of Kirk Cousins supporters wanted to cut Menelik Watson, Aqib Talib, and CJ Anderson–but not Demaryius Thomas or Emmanuel Sanders. This, on the other hand, makes more sense to me, as it would give Cousins some more reliable targets at receiver than he had in DC.
- There is more sympathy to keep Trevor Siemian as an incumbent quarterback among Kirk Cousins supporters. Fewer respondents wanted to outright cut Paxton Lynch, but a plurality favored putting him on the trade block. If Cousins is acquired, I would be OK with keeping Siemian as a full time backup, although he should probably receive a short extension to make sure that role is solidified beyond the expiration of his rookie deal after 2018.
Tyrod Taylor
- 49 of 50 Tyrod Taylor supporters also support keeping him in the salary range he’s currently slated for in 2018 ($16 million). I find this notable because I think that if the Bills cut him, there’s a non-zero chance that he could be had for less than $15 million APY. However, there’s a good reason why respondents overwhelmingly voted in this manner…
- 44 of 50 Tyrod Taylor supporters want to make a trade for him–with a slim majority willing to give up a Day 2 pick. I too am fine with trading for Taylor, although I would probably limit to a Day 3 pick as the Bills are going to be crunched for time to a point where they have to cut Taylor before paying him a $6 million roster bonus.
- Only Watson garnered a majority among players to cut to make room for him. This is sensible, as Watson is likely being cut for more than just cap reasons, and it will cost less in cap dollars to get Taylor.
- An overwhelming majority of Tyrod Taylor supporters also favor taking a rookie quarterback with a top five pick. This, too, aligns with my opinion–while I’m bullish on Taylor I’m more cautiously so, and I think the Broncos should get insurance with a rookie if Taylor doesn’t turn out to be the long term answer. (Precisely half of Taylor supporters want Baker Mayfield as that rookie quarterback, as well.)
Alex Smith
I’m only going to skim aggregate results with him as this is now almost certain to not be an option. But among these 42 respondents, almost all pegged him in the $15-$20 million APY range (something the Redskins disagree with), a slim majority were willing to part ways with a Day 2 pick (but would they part with a young cornerback too?), and an overwhelming majority also said to draft a rookie as well.
All other veteran QBs (less than 10% share from respondents)
- Respondents were split on how much to spend for these quarterbacks. Among those had no limit, the overwhelming choice was Drew Brees. Among those who limited to only backup salaries, Sam Bradford and Josh McCown were popular responses.
- A plurality were willing to give up Day 2 picks among these veteran quarterbacks. This is a bit odd, as most of them are likely to hit the UFA market unencumbered. Furthermore, among these there were only a few responses for Case Keenum or AJ McCarron, the two quarterbacks that might require it.
- Talib, Sanders, Watson and Anderson all garnered majorities or heavy minorities to be cut. This is another point I’ll largely disagree with, as the Broncos should not be shedding talent for a veteran quarterback unless they absolutely need the cap space.
- A clear majority also said to acquire a rookie quarterback as well. A clear majority also says to take a quarterback in the top 5, with an overwhelming plurality in favor of Mayfield.
Rookie quarterbacks
Baker Mayfield
- An overwhelming majority of Baker Mayfield supporters say to take him with a top five pick. As of now, it does seem to be necessary to get him, but we shall see where the league consensus goes by the time we get to April.
- A solid majority want to trade up to get him. I’ve gone through the scenarios that could require such a move, so this doesn’t strike me as outright unreasonable.
- 50 of 174 Baker Mayfield supporters also want Kirk Cousins. This would be more than covering their bases at the quarterback position, and it’s one that I can’t quite endorse due to being overkill.
Josh Rosen
- All of 2 of respondents for him say to use a top five pick on him. Again, this fits the current consensus, but time will tell if that holds up.
- An overwhelming majority of Josh Rosen supporters also want a veteran quarterback–but they’re highly split on which one. Cousins still got a plurality of votes but it was not nearly as lopsided as it was for Mayfield. Not sure what to make of that.
Josh Allen
The aggregate results for Allen are almost identical to that of Rosen: use a top 5 pick on him, also get a veteran, but highly split on which veteran. This one I find more notable because there’s currently a lot more debate on whether Allen should be regarded as highly as he is in some quarters.
Sam Darnold
Again, the consensus among his supporters largely overlaps with that of Rosen and Allen. Darnold has been considered a possible 1st overall pick much earlier than anyone else, though, so we will see if that consensus reestablishes itself come April.
Lamar Jackson
Now, here’s a difference: only 5 of 21 Lamar Jackson supporters say he should be taken with at top 5 pick. Everyone else said that he should be a late 1st rounder or Day 2 pick. I’ll be interested to see if this sentiment matches the eventual league consensus on Jackson.
All other rookie quarterbacks
No one said to use a 1st round pick on them. Almost all of these respondents want a veteran quarterback, but they were highly split as to which one. I thought I would see more support for Cousins among this group, as to me it seems like these are the types of rookie quarterbacks one would target if you did want to pair one with Cousins.
Incumbent quarterbacks
- A minority, albeit a sizeable one, are willing to part ways with both Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch. I couldn’t find any trend among which quarterbacks were most desired to replace both of them, other than the general results that favored Cousins and Mayfield.
- Only 11 of 400 respondents want to keep both Siemian and Lynch. This is not terribly surprising, but it’s also a scenario that, although I would disagree with it, could very well happen if the Broncos only acquire one new quarterback, and Chad Kelly doesn’t work out at all. I’d probably put those odds at better than the 2.75% that this suggests.
- Those cautiously optimistic with Chad Kelly are more likely to want to see Siemian and/or Lynch gone. Again, this makes sense, as if Kelly is retained it makes it difficult to keep both of Siemian or Lynch as well on the roster.