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Denver Broncos: Is quarterback interest real or a smokescreen?

By Christopher Reed

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 02: Quarterback Dwayne Haskins of Ohio State works out during day three of the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 2, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 02: Quarterback Dwayne Haskins of Ohio State works out during day three of the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 2, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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COLUMBIA, MISSOURI – NOVEMBER 23: Quarterback Drew Lock #3 of the Missouri Tigers celebrates with teammates 1after scoring a touchdown during the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium on November 23, 2018 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, MISSOURI – NOVEMBER 23: Quarterback Drew Lock #3 of the Missouri Tigers celebrates with teammates 1after scoring a touchdown during the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium on November 23, 2018 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

The Denver Broncos will bring in at least four quarterbacks for pre-draft visits, despite trading for Joe Flacco. Is the interest real, or is it all just smoke?

In a report from The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala, new Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio admitted while at the NFL owners meetings that, sometimes, a pre-draft visit with a prospect isn’t what it seems to be. Sure, most of the time, there is mutual interest between player and team. But not always — there’s always the chance that it’s a smokescreen, as Fangio noted.

Could Fangio and the Broncos be playing that angle again? General manager John Elway was also quoted at the meetings, saying the team will bring in the top quarterback prospects — Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins, Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray, Missouri’s Drew Lock and Duke’s Daniel Jones — in for private workouts leading up to the 2019 NFL Draft beginning on April 25.

The group is considered the four best at the position this year, though the order those prospects are ranked has seemed fluid at best over time. But, after the trade for Joe Flacco, whether or not the Broncos will draft a quarterback in the first round has been a topic of debate. They still could, of course, with the plan to sit that rookie behind Flacco for a year, or until he is ready to move into the starting role. Or they could opt to draft another position that would yield a more immediate impact.

If anything, Flacco gives the Broncos options. For the first time since Peyton Manning retired, the team knows who will be starting under center well before the season begins. In addition, the team filled needs at cornerback (Kareem Jackson and Bryce Callahan) and right tackle (Ja’Wuan James) during free agency.

The focus now shifts to the draft, where the Broncos no loner have to select a quarterback at No. 10 overall to fill a gaping hole in their roster. Maybe Elway will still opt to take one, hoping this becomes Denver’s version of the Alex Smith-to-Patrick Mahomes scenario. Or maybe he will draft one in a later round to serve as depth, and look to develop that prospect, or go hard for his franchise guy in 2020.

Here’s how these quarterbacks potentially fit in Denver.

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