Denver Broncos: 2021 NFL Draft sleeper targets at quarterback
After a breakthrough season with Wake Forest in 2019, Jamie Newman made the decision to enter the transfer portal as a grad transfer in 2020 and join the Georgia Bulldogs program.
It was expected that Newman, who threw for nearly 3,000 yards and 26 touchdowns in his junior year with the Demon Deacons, would join the Bulldogs program, elevate his 2021 NFL Draft stock substantially, and potentially become the next Joe Burrow or at least a first-round player.
Unfortunately, the pandemic hit, and Newman opted out of the 2020 season completely.
Standing on the film he had at Wake Forest, Newman is probably a late day-two NFL Draft selection if some team banks on his upside.
The Denver Broncos could be that team.
The Wake Forest program is going to be on the radar for the 2021 NFL Draft after the Broncos brought in all of linebacker Justin Strnad, cornerback Essang Bassey, and wide receiver Kendall Hinton in the 2020 draft class.
The Broncos’ scouting department has undoubtedly seen plenty of Newman with how heavily they scouted the Wake Forest program last year.
Newman got the opportunity to show his skills at the 2021 Senior Bowl and understandably had mixed results. He flashed his big-time arm and athleticism but also his inconsistent accuracy and ball placement.
While at Wake Forest, Newman had a variety of impressive tight-window throws but also some maddening mistakes and turnovers.
What NFL teams will be buying into with Newman are his starter-quality skills as a thrower and runner. He has a long way to go, but if he puts the work in, he could end up being a steal in the 3rd-5th round range.