Lunch Special: Here’s how to resolve dispute between Broncos and Chris Harris Jr. By Mark Kiszla Denver Post April 30, 2019 Denver Post sports columnist Mark Kiszla answered questions in a live chat on Monday. Here are the highlights. Given Broncos Country’s fickle nature when it comes to the team’s quarterbacks, how quickly do you think the clamor will come for Drew Lock to start over Joe Flacco? Kiszla: The clamor will start with Joe Flacco’s first interception. In the preseason. If not before. Will that be fair? Of course not. But we all know how Broncos Country rolls. And Flacco has no reservoir of goodwill in Denver. Nice fans will give him a shot. The crazier, louder fans? They always want the back- up quarterback, whether his name is Tim Tebow, Kyle Sloter or Drew Lock. Either Lock can play. Or he can’t. And I’m a firm believer that QBs develop by playing QB. You learn to play the piano by playing it, not standing in the back of the room and watching somebody else play it. If Lock can play, he will be pushing Flacco real hard by the end of this season. Kiz, what’s the latest with the whole Chris Harris contract? The Broncos didn’t pick up a cornerback in the draft, so does this mean the team is all in on Harris? Kiszla: Well this contract dispute escalated quickly, didn’t it? John Elway and Chris Harris Jr. both have said some stupid-guy stuff that didn’t help one bit. I generally favor the player in most contract disputes, especially when it comes to Pro Bowl players of Harris’ ability. But he has a contract. And Elway won’t be pushed around, if his track record is any indication. Is there a compromise to be had? OK, I’m here to mediate the extension. Two years, $26 million. Or three years, $35 million. Heavy on the the up-front money and guarantees. That’s fair. Everything else is just Elway and Harris wanting to hear themselves roar. And by the way … My fee for mediation is $500,000. Payable by check or money order, with bill split by both parties. You’re welcome. How do you see Dalton Risner fitting on the Broncos O-line? Kiszla: Dalton Risner starts from Day 1 at guard. Right guard, I’m guessing. And he probably does pretty well for a rookie. Better than Garret Bolles did as a rookied at the much tougher position of tackle. Risner has a good shot to succeed. Isn’t that the wish of everybody in Colorado, especially those good folks in Risner’s hometown? OK Kiz — who has the better shot at winning it all: The Nuggets or the Avs? Kiszla: Love this question. The Avs have a better chance. A much better chance. Why? The easy answer is: The Golden State Warriors. They’re a fading dynasty, but still a dynasty. There ain’t no hockey dynasties left in the NHL tournament bracket. Heck, there weren’t any dynasties in the NHL bracket fro the jump.The Avs are riding a hot goalie (Grubauer) and maybe the world’s most dynamic player (MacKinnon.) Add a defense that got a big jolt from Cale Makar … and this thing has a little bit of a Rocktober-y feel, donchya think? The Avs looked real good last night against the Sharks. Do you see us pulling out this series? Kiszla: The Avs played what I think might have been their best hockey of the season in the Game 2 victory against San Jose. The Sharks are bigger and stronger. They were pushing Colorado around in the first period. And then methinks the Avs figured something out. Get the puck deep, out-race those big lugs to it. Let those young quick D-men (Sam Girard and Cale Makar) join the attack. It worked in Game 2. Is it the formula for success the rest of the way? Could be. Might be. We shall see. (Hey, hockey nation … how was that for some solid puck talk?) I’m glad the Broncos picked up a couple of local boys in the draft. How much do you know of Juwann Winfree? Should we be excited for him? Kiszla: Let’s wish Winfree the best. He has some skills. Will he repeat the CU success story of Phillip Lindsay? No. Could he make the squad? Maybe. Would making the practice squad be a major victory? Yes. Baby steps. Fant, Risner and Lock: Reviewing the Broncos' 2019 draft By Mike Klis 9NEWS April 30, 2019 Trader John Elway began the draft by moving back to acquire ammunition, then used it to take a shot on a future franchise quarterback. National pundits, local scribes, surveys and polls have largely lauded Elway, the Broncos’ general manager, for the way he executed his draft. It was his ninth draft and he seems to be getting the hang of it. Here’s the final results of the Broncos 2019 draft: Rd (Pick) Player, position 1. (20) Noah Fant, TE 2. (41) Dalton Risner, OG 2. (42) Drew Lock, QB 3. (71) Dre'Mont Jones, DL, Ohio State 5. (156) Justin Hollins, LB, Oregon 6. (187) Juwann Winfree, WR, Colorado Fant will likely be the “move” or receiving tight end with Jeff Heuerman playing in-line. Risner should start at a guard spot, although the Broncos currently are going with Don Barclay at left guard and Sam Jones at right guard. Lock becomes the backup quarterback to Joe Flacco and the Broncos are emphasizing that Flacco will be their starter in 2019. Which may be what he heard at this time last year after the Baltimore Ravens moved up to take Lamar Jackson with the final pick of the first round. Jones could develop into a passing down interior pass rusher, although he may need a half season to develop into that role. Hollins is an outside pass rusher, although there’s talk he could get a look as an inside linebacker. He had a combined 11.0 sacks and 25.5 tackles for loss in his final two seasons at Oregon. “I’m going to play anywhere they need me," Hollins said in a conference call Saturday with the Denver media. “I’m one of those guys who is just going to get in and play where ever I am needed, whether that is special teams, inside, outside—it doesn’t matter. I am here to compete. I am here to play as hard as I can and provide the team with some type of impact.” The Broncos traded out of another fifth round pick to acquire veteran special teamer Dekoda Watson from San Francisco, then traded up – and surrendering their seventh-round draft pick to take Winfree. They did not trade cornerback Chris Harris Jr., nor draft a corner. Elway is expected to open discussions with Harris and his agent Frederick Lyles next week to see if they can resolve their contract differences. Winfree won the 40-player audition Colorado-area players had at the Broncos local pro day April 10 at the Pat Bowlen Fieldhouse. Elway, his top assistants were there, along with head coach Vic Fangio and his full coaching staff. “I definitely didn’t think they were really high on me, to be honest with you, but after the local pro day that I attended, and sitting down with the receiver coach (Zach Azzanni), he really expressed high interest in me," Winfree said in his conference call. “From there I could see I really changed their point of view on me. Them seeing me close-up, seeing what type of player I am and what type of man I am off the field was big for me. That definitely helped a lot. Especially with [RB] Phillip Lindsay, I know he put in a huge word for me. That’s my big brother right there. He paved the way for me, doing what he did, coming from Colorado. I’m just glad he was able to help me out there doing that. We have the same agent (Mike McCartney) too, so I’m just completely blessed.” The Broncos are expected to reach agreements with up to 15 undrafted college free agents later today. The rookies will show up for their minicamp that will be held May 9-12. Broncos say they're ready to make patience part of Drew Lock's development By Jeff Legwold ESPN.com April 30, 2019 Drew Lock played 50 games as the University of Missouri’s quarterback, he threw for 12,193 yards, 99 touchdowns and was generally one of the biggest men on any campus. And now, fresh off being a second-round pick by the Denver Broncos in this year’s NFL draft, he’s a backup quarterback. In fact, at least to begin his professional career, as Broncos president of football operations/general manager John Elway put it, “Drew will come in and compete for the backup job." “It’s an adjustment," Lock said. “But one I’m ready for … you talk about getting put into an awesome situation, I got put into a really awesome situation." But, there will still be plenty of discussion about how long before Lock should or shouldn't see meaningful game action. The Broncos have seen recently the benefits of a slower rollout for a rookie quarterback when the Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes got the first playing time of his first NFL season in the 2017 regular- season finale against the Broncos, a glimpse both of what was to come and what the Broncos didn't have for themselves.