The Denver Broncos need a quarterback and they are in the mix for elite names.
The Denver Broncos have made it clear that they want to address the quarterback position this offseason. Furthermore, they are targeting some big names. As Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com noted, the Broncos coaching staff asked that quarterback Baker Mayfield be on the roster coached by them during the Senior Bowl.
In addition, Wyoming’s Josh Allen will also be on their roster along with Washington’s Luke Falk and Nebraska’s Tanner Lee.
Given the fact that the Broncos are slated to pick at No. 5, both Allen and Mayfield are more likely to be selected by the team as opposed to Falk and Lee just based on talent, and given the team’s draft position.
On the other hand, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. released his first mock draft of the season on Thursday and has the Broncos taking Sam Darnold out of USC at the fifth spot.
Kiper’s mock makes the most sense to me. Allen to the Browns at No. 1 is a case of “take the best player available.” Mayfield to the Redskins at No. 13 gives Washington a nice option as a backup, especially if Kirk Cousins leaves the team in free agency. There have been rumblings in regards to that, and I could certainly see it happening.
In any event, what this means is that the Broncos are making the quarterback position a focal point this offseason. Furthermore, they appear to be going after marquee names, not content with searching from the scrap heap.
Ever since the retirement of Peyton Manning, the Broncos have had inconsistent play out of the quarterback position. Currently, the Broncos carry only Paxton Lynch and Brock Osweiler at the position, and there are reports the team is letting the latter leave in free agency.
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Between free agency, the draft, and the fact that the team carries two quarterbacks on the roster, it makes sense that the quarterback position is the central focus for John Elway and Co. Their bold strategy to pursue some of the biggest names in college football and free agency shows that they want to find their franchise quarterback in a hurry.