The Denver Broncos and rookie quarterback Drew Lock are reportedly talking over a new deal. We’ve examined Lock’s rookie contract and taken a closer look at the terms. In this piece, we’ll review Lock’s Signing bonus, Cap hit for each season, and what the future holds for him with the Broncos. This is a fascinating development. We’ll keep you updated as soon as we learn more.
Table of Contents
Drew Lock’s rookie contract
Upon signing his rookie contract with the Denver Broncos, quarterback Drew Lock will earn around $7 million over the next four years. The contract is estimated to be worth $7 million and includes a $3.1 Million signing bonus. Lock’s contract, which is the largest among all league quarterbacks, is very substantial. We used press releases, industry experts, online encyclopedias, and news articles to calculate his salary.
Lock’s rookie year performance, which included a 4-1 record with a 7-3 TD to interception ratio, impressed the Broncos. Lock struggled a bit in his second year with the team, posting a 4-9 record and throwing 16 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Lock’s rookie contract will continue to grow as the Broncos consider him a future franchise quarterback.
Although Lock took several months to sign his rookie contract, it was well worth it. The second-round pick is hoping to make a big impact. The Broncos had previously tried Brock Osweiler, Paxton Lynch, but were not happy with their results. While these two quarterbacks were disappointing, John Elway had a high bar for Lock, and was open to a third try.
The Denver Broncos have signed all six players from the 2019 draft. Only one player remains unsigned is offensive guard Dalton Risner. Risner took the long road to sign a contract. Risner’s long holdout also ended with a deal, but he was assured of a better one. It is important to remember that rookie contracts should be for four years and not just two or three.
Signing bonus
Drew Lock, the quarterback for the Denver Broncos will likely earn $7 million, plus his $3.1 million signing bonus. Lock is expected to be a first round pick and was a holdout during training camp. However, he has now signed a four-year deal worth $7 million with the team. Here’s a breakdown of his contract.
The signing bonus for Drew Lock contract is $3.1 million, which is a standard amount for a No. 42 quarterback in the draft. However, Lock’s agent wants more money than that. Two years after Lock signed his contract, the Denver Broncos secured a $75,000 bonus for 2021 and an additional $100,000 bonus for 2022. Both Lock and Risner’s agents are trying to get the same deal as their respective clients.
Drew Lock was signed by the Denver Broncos as a signing bonus of $3.1 million. Lock was signed by the Denver Broncos in the second round, 2019 NFL Draft. Drew Lock is a talented quarterback, but his collegiate career was marred by injuries. In fact, his agent sought a hefty “quarterback premium” when negotiating the terms of his contract. However, Lock’s performance has not been affected by the signing bonus.
The Denver Broncos signed Lock after he impressed the front office during his rookie season. Lock went 4-1 with seven touchdowns, and only three interceptions to surpass Joe Flacco’s rookie record. Unfortunately, his 2020 performance was not as impressive. The Broncos ended up with a 4-9 record, losing two of their best players in the process. Despite his struggles, the Broncos did receive a quarterback premium.
If Lock had not signed his contract by the opening day of camp, he would have remained a holdout. Lock has two weeks to prepare for Hall of Fame Game, and the Broncos can use as many reps possible. Lock will likely be the third-string quarterback, behind veteran Kevin Hogan or starter Joe Flacco. While he hasn’t played a full season yet, his signing bonus could help the Broncos win their first playoff game in eight years.
Cap hit in each season
Drew Lock has two years remaining on his contract. His rookie contract has a cap hit of $1.9 million per season, and he’s set to make $2.2 million in 2020. The team has $32million in cap space, so they could easily extend his contract. They could also choose to restructure Lock’s contract and let him go in the offseason 2022. If they choose to do so, the cost to release Lock in the offseason of 2022 would be significantly higher than releasing him this year.
Seattle has a big hole under center after trading Wilson. They have a $26 million dead money hit from trading Wilson, which ESPN lists as the second-highest in the NFL. Seattle had the eighth-largest cap space before trading Wilson. They now have $20m less cap space for 2021 than they had before. They’ll be $45m under the cap in 2022 if they add a few players during the offseason and $26m under in 2021 if they add more players.
The Broncos don’t just like the cap number. The team has been a fan of Lock since his college days, and Schneider is happy to give him a shot to be a game manager. Although Lock is only three-quarters of the way to being a starting quarterback, he could be a valuable part of the puzzle. The Broncos may be able to get multiple players for this salary. The Broncos will get Shelby Harris and Noah Fant for that amount.
Future with Broncos
After a poor start to the season, the Denver Broncos turned to backup quarterback Drew Lock to take the reigns and start the third game of the year. Unfortunately for Lock, the team lost 15-10 to the Cincinnati Bengals, so his future with the Broncos looks murky. However, Lock still has the chance to prove his worth and be the Broncos’ quarterback by 2022. Although Lock’s play isn’t making any headlines, it’s hard for him to avoid the spotlight.
The Denver Broncos should keep Lock as their backup quarterback for the 2020 season, despite his inconsistency. He’s under contract until 2022, so they can afford to let him walk away if he doesn’t develop into a franchise quarterback. Lock’s mediocre accuracy and lack of development in the NFL have led many to speculate that his time in Denver is over. However, the Broncos will likely be willing to do whatever it takes for Lock to stay in the game, as long as they can.
While the Denver Broncos have been in the playoff hunt for six years, Teddy Bridgewater’s breakout year was a defining moment for his career. Bridgewater played in 14 games for Denver, leading the team to a 7-6 record. However, the sophomore quarterback suffered a season-ending concussion in Week 15 and was replaced by Drew Lock. In those three starts, Lock avoided turnovers and avoided costly mistakes, but the Broncos ultimately lost each game without Bridgewater.
The Denver Broncos do not plan to replace Kirk Cousins but could consider a “boom-or-bust” approach to a future quarterback. Among the prospects being touted for the draft are former Alabama quarterback Mac Jones and second-round picks Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, and Trey Fields. The quarterback class of 2021 may be the best in NFL history.