The Broncos have agreed to sign Case Keenum, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). It’s a two-year deal for at $36MM, as Mike Florio of PFT details. All $36MM of the deal is guaranteed for injury and $25MM of the contract is fully guaranteed.
We heard on Monday that Keenum might not wait for Kirk Cousins to sign first and that is exactly the case. Keenum saw an opportunity and an offer that he liked with the Broncos, and he took it.
The deal means that there are likely three teams in on Cousins – the Jets, Vikings, and Cardinals. The Broncos were thought to be suitors, but Cousins was apparently too rich for their blood.
One year ago, no one would have expected Keenum to be one of 2018’s most sought-after free agents. The Vikings signed the former Rams signal caller to a one-year, $2MM deal in March with the idea that he would back up Sam Bradford and, eventually slide down to third on the depth chart when/if Teddy Bridgewater returned to full health. When Bradford went down in September, Keenum exceeded all expectations and put together the best season of his career.
The 30-year-old graded out as Pro Football Focus’ ninth-ranked QB in 2017, putting him above the likes of Jimmy Garoppolo, Aaron Rodgers, Marcus Mariota, Matthew Stafford, and Tyrod Taylor. With Keenum at the helm, the Vikings earned a first-round bye and beat the Saints in a playoff thriller before succumbing to the Eagles in the NFC championship game. Of course, after four seasons of mediocrity, teams are wondering whether this was an aberration or a real sign of things to come. The Broncos, of course, are in the latter camp.
Keenum, a career journeyman who inked a one-year, $2MM pact with Minnesota last offseason, posted the best season of his career in 2017 while leading the Vikings’ offense to a No. 5 finish in offensive DVOA. The 30-year-old ranked seventh in passer rating and ninth in adjusted net yards per completion during the 2017 regular season, and finished first in Football Outsiders‘ individual DVOA metric.
Keenum now reunites with Broncos senior personnel advisor Gary Kubiak, who brought him into the league as an undrafted free agent with the Texans and eventually made him his starting quarterback. Broncos head coach Vance Joseph was also on that same Texans coaching staff.
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I’d like this if I was Denver fan. Get it done quick before Cousins signs so it doesn’t turn into a bidding war. Cousins price may go up, teams won’t have Keenum to fall back on.
Wow didn’t think that Keenum would get/sign for more money then Cousins. Assuming Cousins signs with the Vikings at the reported deal of 3 years 28 Million which it sounds like that’s pretty much a done deal.
Forget my previous comment then when I read it earlier they had it for 3 years 28 Million and not 28 Million Annual salary whch makes a litte more sense as 3 yeara 28 Million total seemed like a heck of a good deal.
Denver will be looking QB in the draft as well
I wonder if Denver trades down from 5 and looks to draft Baker Mayfield in the 8-12 range. I’m happy with Keenum though because it would’ve been a massive overpay for Cousins. Welcome to Mile High Case
Exactly this
I think it depends on how the draft shakes up. If two QBs get taken before they make their pick, I could see them staying pat and taking a QB at #5. If only one QB gets taken, then I think it’s safer to move back but they also have to pick their spot wisely since Miami or Buffalo could try to trade up for a QB.
Like the timing and like the fit. Keenum probably isn’t as good as he was in 2017, but he’s probably not as bad as he was in 2016. If he’s somewhere in the middle, he’s still better than the garbage they’ve thrown out there the last two years.
I love this move for the Broncos and I’m not even a fan of theirs. Any of their fans who don’t like I guess I understand when all they kept talking about was Cousins so this is a let down compared to that but the Broncos have shown us an other teams as well that it doesn’t take an elite QB allot takes is a above average QB who won’t cost you the game and a really good surrounding cast on offense with a really good defense to win.
I wouldn’t love this move as a Broncos fan, but it’s also not a heartbreaker. I would have to say it’s just fine. But with the moves the Broncos have made I don’t think their team is gonna be much better than last year
After adding Keenum I would love to see the Broncos trade down to 8-9 and draft Roquan Smith then try to pick up Lamar Jackson in the late first or early second.
What do they do with Paxton lynch? I don’t believe Denver truly believed in him. First he was to succeed Payton manning when Brock oslier left to suck it up in Houston, than you start that other no named quarterback. Either keenum will be your bridge qb or it will be another long season.