Good morning, Bronco Country!
We are almost there. The NFL Draft is just over two weeks away. And we can all stop wondering how Sean Payton and the Broncos will fare at No. 12.
Take a quarterback at 12?
Trade back and still get a quarterback?
Mortgage the future to trade up and get a quarterback?
So many options.
There is little way to discern what Sean Payton is thinking.
Because what if the Broncos do not draft a quarterback and instead go with a tight end? edge? perhaps one of the high-profile OTs? I dare say that all are required, but determining the appropriate component of a very huge puzzle in Denver will be difficult.
Here’s how some recent commentators have attempted to address the issue in Denver. Some are serious, while others are so unsure of what the Broncos will do that they are only here for the laughs.
That’s okay. At this point, so am I. Let’s see what you think.
Brock Bowers, TE. In his latest mock draft, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler suggests that the Broncos may choose pick an offensive weapon if they cannot move up for one of the top four quarterback prospects.
The draft expert nearly went with the Broncos trading back and selecting quarterback Bo Nix. But in the end, Brugler chose Bowers because of his high acclaim from team sources during the Combine.
Bowers is an ideal fit for Denver’s goal and need to add more impact players to their offence.
Bo Nix, Quarterback Oregon
Brendan Donahue offers sharp football analysis.
J.J. McCarthy, quarterback Michigan
Chad Reuter of NFL.com
Reuter thinks that the Broncos will trade first- and third-round picks in 2025 to acquire their future QB.
“McCarthy’s lack of volume in college might be seen as a negative by some, but perhaps not to Payton, who might think it’ll make it easier to mould the athletic former Wolverine into a top-level quarterback,” according to Reuter.
Byron Murphy II, DT Texas
Ryan McCrystal provides sharp football analysis.
Drake Maye, quarterback Adam Rank, NFL Network
This “mock” is my least favourite yet, but the analysis is great.
Rank understands that this is not a flashy decision and advises the Broncos against selecting a quarterback at No. 12. He mocks McCarthy as the Vikings’ No. 11 pick, the third quarterback off the board.
However, because the Broncos have so many needs and are a true enigma, Rank will accompany Drake Maye to Denver.
“Hear me out, Broncos: you’re not a QB away from competing. I would strongly advise adopting a different approach, such as trading back or acquiring Brock Bowers. I honestly don’t know. I just think you’re going to take a quarterback since Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci are the only players on the current depth chart. Starting the season with those two as quarterback would make you the least serious franchise in football. I mean, you could sign Ryan Tannehill, but only if you want Brandon Perna to make a million dollars from his YouTube channel.
Okay, I suppose you should get your quarterback if he falls here after all. But, guy, you need a lot of support.
Quinyon Mitchell, CB Toledo.
Bruce Feldman The Athletic
Feldman is unconvinced that Bo Nix or Michael Penix Jr. are a suitable fit for this position, but he believes the Toledo cornerback may work well with Patrick Surtain.
“Mitchell, who ranked 46th on the Freaks List last year,… sprang onto the national spotlight when he recorded four interceptions and two pick sixes in a game against Northern Illinois. That season, he shattered Toledo’s record by intercepting 20 passes. Mitchell is so unique that MAC coaches can’t get enough of him.”
Despite an OT-rich draft, none of the most recent mocks come close to Denver’s numbers. While the trenches, and particularly the offensive line, are critical positions for Payton, he overhauled the offensive line last season and has added some depth this season through free agency.
If Payton does not go quarterback in the first round, he may pick up an OT then, but he is more likely to wait until Day 3.
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