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Denver Broncos draft QB Chad Kelly as draft’s Mr. Irrelevant

By Sayre Bedinger

Nov 5, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Chad Kelly (10) drops back to pass against Georgia Southern Eagles during the first half at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 5, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Chad Kelly (10) drops back to pass against Georgia Southern Eagles during the first half at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Denver Broncos have drafted Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly with the 253rd and final pick in the 2017 NFL Draft in a bit of a stunner…

The Denver Broncos made a bit of a shocking pick for Mr. Irrelevant and the 253rd overall pick in the draft by taking Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly. Kelly is a talented player who was kicked out of Clemson once upon a time before ending up at East Mississippi Community College, the school famous for its series on Netflix called Last Chance U.

While at EMCC, Kelly led them to a national title and transferred to Ole Miss, where he was again a stud. His 2015 tape is some of the best of any quarterback in this year’s draft, and you can take that to the bank.

Back in March, I flirted with the idea of Kelly becoming a member of the Denver Broncos in a ‘high risk, high reward’ type of mock draft. Here’s what I said back then:

"Chad Kelly has made his share of off-field headlines over the last five years, but the talent on the field is pretty undeniable.There are definitely huge question marks here, but for a developmental quarterback, a sixth round pick could be worth the risk to try and get Kelly to get on the right track.He’s got a great arm and can make all the NFL throws required, and is a very good athlete. When you watch him play in 2015 with Ole Miss, he looks like a potential top 50 player. He was dominant that season, racking up 41 total touchdowns and beating Alabama, Auburn, and LSU in the same season.There’s a lot to like here, but definitely an off-field risk."

That mock draft also included Jake Butt, for what it’s worth, but I had him going in the third round…

Back to Kelly, who was yet another in a long line of great day three picks by John Elway in the 2017 Draft. This is a player that, as they say, can make all the throws. He has a live arm but he’s also an excellent athlete with escape-ability.

Kelly can make plays outside the pocket and deliver throws on the run, while also making plays with his feet.

The off-field issues are noted, but Kelly’s ability to play the game outweighs the risk at this point of the draft. The Broncos are getting a very talented player with a chip on his shoulder at very little cost with very little risk involved if it doesn’t work out.

That’s a great pick by John Elway and company.

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