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How could Broncos QB Case Keenum affect the AFC West race?

Years ago, a little over two to be exact, Peyton Manning still roamed the AFC West and the Denver Broncos were closing out the 2015 season with their fifth consecutive division title on the way to a Super Bowl 50 win. In the two seasons since, Denver has missed the playoffs twice, and in 2017 the Broncos finished 5-11 as the rest of the division passed them by.

Broncos president of football operations/general manager John Elway has vowed to "do what we have to do" to get back in the playoff conversation, and after weeks of evaluation, Elway said quarterback Case Keenum was "the target ... the best fit for us." Keenum is just the guy to get the Broncos back on track, per Elway.

The four AFC West beat reporters from ESPN's NFL Nation take a look at what impact Keenum could have on the division race.

Paul Gutierrez, Raiders reporter: To borrow a comment from someone much closer to the new Denver quarterback, it depends: Which Keenum are the Broncos getting, the guy who foundered for the Rams or the guy who flew for the Vikings? Look, the Broncos' strength is their defense, which took them to that Super Bowl title. Plus, they've gone down this road before with the "next" hot quarterback in Brock Osweiler, Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch. Raiders edge rusher Khalil Mack once sacked Osweiler five times in a game. He got Siemian five times in three games and scared the bejesus out of Lynch the one time he faced him. Case, Khalil. Khalil, Case. Expect Mack to make his presence just as well known to Keenum, particularly with a leaky Denver offensive line, and that would drastically affect his play against the rest of the AFC West. So you might say we'll see more of the same when the Raiders play the Broncos.

Jeff Legwold, Broncos reporter: Keenum's arrival in Denver was a product of much discussion among the team's decision-makers, and it just might be proof former coach Gary Kubiak's say in personnel is growing. Kubiak was hired by Elway in 2017 as a "senior adviser," and Elway has since expanded Kubiak's role. Kubiak believes both in Keenum as a quarterback and in the playbook offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave will create, because Kubiak and Elway helped teach the foundation of that offense to Musgrave when he was a player himself. The trade for tackle Jared Veldheer was a quality move after the initial rush of free agency and will help solidify things up front. Keenum's chances for success hinge on how well the Broncos protect him, because that has been their biggest failing on offense and has eroded the play of every quarterback they've put behind center. If they can play better up front than they have for much of the past two seasons, Keenum should be able to reach the level of performance he showed last season with the Vikings.

Adam Teicher, Chiefs reporter: Since he will have new teammates and a new offensive system that will take some time for him to get to know, expectations for Keenum should be minimal despite the contract he received from the Broncos. Denver was the last-place team in the division in 2017. Is Keenum really the difference between last place and the AFC West title for the Broncos? If he were that type of player, would the Vikings really have allowed him to get away? That they would so willingly give up on Keenum gives me pause here, and Minnesota wasn't the first team to think he wasn't the solution.

Eric Williams, Chargers reporter: Keenum should play solid football, but he won't put up the gaudy numbers he produced with the Vikings last season. For starters, the Broncos still have to put together a more talented, consistent offensive line to protect Keenum. Along with that, he has to learn a new offense and become familiar with new receivers such as Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders. And I don't think Denver's cast of playmakers is as talented as the Vikings'. That said, Keenum is better than any of the quarterbacks who played under center for the Broncos last season, so he is a significant upgrade.

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