Mike Mayock raves about Chad Kelly pick for Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos made a very interesting pick in Chad Kelly to conclude the 2017 NFL Draft, and NFL Network’s Mike Mayock absolutely loved it…
The Denver Broncos needed a third quarterback coming out of this year’s draft class one way or another, but they didn’t necessarily feel they had to reach for anyone. As picks rolled on by, John Elway ultimately decided to take Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly with the final pick of the 2017 NFL Draft.
Chad Kelly. Mr. Irrelevant.
The polarizing but talented Kelly — nephew of NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly — was the perfect pick for the Broncos at that time. Seventh round picks fighting for roster spots at positions of depth aren’t likely to make the team, at least when you look around the league and at the history of the draft.
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The success rate of Mr. Irrelevant picks is particularly low, as the only really notable player selected with the draft’s final pick is kicker Ryan Succup.
Kelly has an uphill climb ahead, and the only reason he wasn’t an undrafted free agent is because the Broncos held the last pick and present a unique situation at the quarterback position. After an offseason littered with Tony Romo rumors, the Broncos entered this year’s draft in search of but not desperate for a third quarterback.
Another player to develop along with 2015 seventh rounder and incumbent starter Trevor Siemian and 2016 first round pick Paxton Lynch.
NFL Network draft guru Mike Mayock — whose reputation precedes him — was ecstatic about the selection for the Broncos:
“That’s a great pick. That is a great pick. I’ve been trying to say that if you take out the medical and the character (concerns) he’s a first or second round quarterback all day long…”
Especially coming from Mayock, that’s high praise. The fact remains, there are injury and off-field concerns for Kelly, but the situation in Denver is favorable enough that it’s reasonable to expect he would compete for a backup job as soon as he is healthy, and he expects to be healthy by September.
If he’s unable to go into training camp, the Broncos could carry an additional third arm and keep Kelly on IR or the practice squad if he’s ready to go. The key is, after clearing his situation medically, to keep him around and monitor his development.
This was a very fun selection to cap off an excellent day three of the draft for the Broncos, who added six offensive players into the fold.