Denver Broncos: 2021 NFL Draft sleeper targets at quarterback

The Denver Broncos‘ quarterback position is going to be in focus until something happens, whether it’s a veteran signing or the Houston Texans decide they are going to trade Deshaun Watson.

If you like to bet on the sure thing, the most likely starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos to open the 2021 season is currently the incumbent Drew Lock. Lock may have a bit of a chip on his shoulder with the Denver Broncos’ pursuit of Matthew Stafford and potentially Deshaun Watson, but ultimately, he may get another chance to prove himself.

Even if the Broncos bring in a veteran through free agency or trade as their primary move, there is a chance they could look to the 2021 NFL Draft for some options at the quarterback position. At this point in time, there remains a chance they could look at the four quarterbacks expected to go in the first round after Trevor Lawrence — BYU’s Zach Wilson, Ohio State’s Justin Fields, North Dakota State’s Trey Lance, and Alabama’s Mac Jones.

But the Denver Broncos and new general manager George Paton may be more likely to look at some mid-late round flyers at the position who could be solid camp arms and developmental prospects.

Let’s take a look through a number of guys who could be available beyond the first day of the draft (and likely at least the first two rounds) that could intrigue the Denver Broncos.

Whatever team takes a shot on Davis Mills is going to be buying into his upside, because the sample size at this point in time is tiny.

Mills came to Stanford as a five-star prospect in 2017 and played just one game (two pass attempts) in his first two years on campus. That’s pretty rare for a five-star quarterback prospect to go to a major program and sit for that amount of time, and it had to be especially difficult for Mills considering he chose Stanford over Alabama and pretty much any other school he could have gone to.

He started getting playing time in 2019 and completed almost 66 percent of his passes with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions.

He was limited to just five games in 2020 but continued to play solid ball, completing 66.2 percent of his passes with seven touchdowns and three interceptions.

Even if you combine his last 13 games, the numbers don’t jump off the page, but watching Mills play, it’s clear that he has developmental potential. He has a number of really good throws against pressure, standing tough in the pocket, and even if his arm strength doesn’t “wow” you, he puts the ball on the money with good timing.