ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- This week Denver Broncos quarterbacks Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater were working side-by-side, talking and laughing as the team began Phase 3 of its offseason program.

They will have every move, every pass, gesture, shoulder shrug, mistake and touchdown tallied until coach Vic Fangio names a starter at the franchise's biggest problem position later this summer.

And whether Lock or Bridgewater is the solution to that problem -- or whether the Broncos are actually considering a trade for Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers -- remains to be seen.

"Each day is an opportunity for me to get better as a person, as a teammate, as a family member, and in any aspect that I can," Bridgewater said. "When everything came out [about the Rodgers' rumors], I really didn't know until someone brought it to my attention. I'm in my own little world sometimes and far away from football. When the news broke, I don't even remember what I was doing. Like I said, it's a business and I understand the nature of this business."

Since Week 8 of the 2017 season the Broncos have had nine different quarterbacks start games. Toss in running back Phillip Lindsay's start behind center last Nov. 29 when the Broncos had no quarterbacks in uniform due to violations of COVID-19 protocols and they've had 10 different players start at the position over the past 57 games -- a different quarterback every 5.7 games.

The end result has been far too few touchdowns, far too many losses and no playoff trips. Which is why Bridgewater and Lock are working together to get the team back on track.

"You always want to be the guy who can be there for a while," Bridgewater said earlier this week. "Of course, that's my mindset, but at the same time, I have to take it one day at a time and continue to be the best teammate I can be today and let tomorrow take care of itself."

"I feel like we're going to be able to talk easily out there," Lock said of Bridgewater this week. "... He's seen a lot of great quarterbacks and he's played a lot of ball. He has a lot of experience. I feel like we can both bounce things off of each other now where I don't feel necessarily that I'm the young one. I feel like I can talk back ... I have enough knowledge where I can start talking these things out."

First-year general manager George Paton inherited Lock, a second-round pick in the 2019 draft, and traded for Bridgewater the day before this year's draft opened. He says he likes them both and wants competition to bring out the best in each.

Fangio has said it is a full-blown competition from this moment forward, complete with a 50-50 division of snaps and a play-by-play, day-by-day assessment that will really begin next month when the team adds some 11-on-11 work to their practices.

Asked how the two could create any sort of separation in the early OTAs, when the Broncos will largely be doing individual position work as well as some limited 7-on-7 periods, Fangio said: "It may be separation in some people's minds, but until we get to at least practicing 11-on-11, you need to withhold much judgment. Eleven-on-11, and ultimately, the preseason games will be the true tell."

Bridgewater is four years older than Lock, has started 31 more games than Lock and has dealt with the recovery from one more career-threatening knee injury than Lock. Paton said he wanted to add Bridgewater because he's good enough to be a quality starter, but also a good enough teammate to help Lock if he doesn't win the job.

"No doubt, Teddy is an incredible person and an incredible teammate," Paton said. "He is going to try and win the job and if he doesn't, he is going to be a great mentor towards Drew."

For his part, Lock has come to work, saying he reviewed all parts of his offseason preparation, from workouts, to diet, to evaluating his own play.

"[And] after doing it, there is zero doubt in my mind that I would like to do this for the rest of my life," Lock said. "That is a lot of the reason why I went into this. I want this team to be good. I want myself to be really good, but I wanted nothing to be able to look back on with regret. I was going to give everything I had this offseason -- the offseasons before -- but especially this one, to be able to come in and help this team get to the playoffs and help this city come back."