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Denver Broncos: What options remain at quarterback?

By Graham Tiedtke

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - DECEMBER 31: Drew Lock #3 of the Missouri Tigers throws the ball against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the first half of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium on December 31, 2018 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - DECEMBER 31: Drew Lock #3 of the Missouri Tigers throws the ball against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the first half of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium on December 31, 2018 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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The Denver Broncos passed on drafting a quarterback on the first day of the 2019 NFL Draft. What will they do in the next two days?

When the Denver Broncos traded down from the number 10 spot to pick number 20 during the first round of the NFL Draft Thursday, it seemed as if they were not going to draft a quarterback. That was the case, as they chose Iowa tight end Noah Fant.

They passed on the opportunity to select Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins, who went to the Washington Redskins with the 15th pick, five picks after their original selection and five before their final movement (20th overall).

Many thought that they were going to select Missouri’s Drew Lock. Instead, Lock has fallen out of the first round entirely. Once considered a definite first-round quarterback, one has to wonder why Lock had fallen out of that tier.

The Broncos hold the ninth pick (41st overall) in the second round, which will take place Friday night. Now, I’m not saying they will select a quarterback in that round, but it certainly is possible that they get their guy in Lock, who they have obviously been interested in for a while.

Aside from their 41st overall pick, the Broncos currently have seven more selections in the 2019 NFL Draft:

2nd round, 52nd overall (from PIT)
3rd round, 71st overall
4th round, 125th overall (from HOU)
5th round, 148th overall
5th round, 156th overall (from MIN)
6th round, 182nd overall
7th round, 237th overall (from HOU)

Among the quarterbacks still available are Jarrett Stidham, Ryan Finley, Will Grier, Clayton Thorson, and Brett Rypien.

So, really, if the Broncos are going to draft a quarterback in this draft, they don’t necessarily have to do it early. With Joe Flacco inserted at quarterback, the urgency to secure a top player at the position isn’t necessarily there.

General Manager John Elway considers Flacco to still be “young” even though he is on the end side of his career. At 34-years old, players will start to decline.

There is still the chance that Flacco can be the starter for a number of years to come and it would be beneficial to the Denver Broncos to maybe draft Flacco’s potential replacement.

Whether they do it this year or wait until 2020 or 2021 (Trevor Lawrence, perhaps), they are going to need to eventually figure something out. They only have two other quarterbacks on the roster as of right now: Garrett Grayson and Kevin Hogan.

Next. Broncos picks remaining after first round. dark

If they don’t address even the backup (for now) position, they are going to be in a lot of trouble if Flacco ends up going down with an injury.

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