The Denver Broncos were in Provo, Utah for the pro day of BYU quarterback Zach Wilson (among a couple of other solid prospects) when news dropped that the San Francisco 49ers were shaking up the 2021 NFL Draft.
The 49ers moved all the way up to the 3rd overall selection from pick 12 in order to select a quarterback, in all likelihood. In order to move up to the 3rd pick, the 49ers traded away their 12th pick this year, a first- and third-round pick in 2022, as well as a 2023 first-round pick.
There is really no way you move up that high in the NFL Draft for anything besides a quarterback.
Given the 49ers’ relationship with the New York Jets and their new head coach Robert Saleh, you would have to think that if the Jets were going in a different direction besides QB at pick number two, they would have taken that sweet haul of a trade from the 49ers themselves.
Text from an NFL scout who was at the BYU pro day:
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) March 26, 2021
"Draft starts at 3. Wilson going 2."
With Trevor Lawrence of Clemson being all but Sharpied in as this year’s first overall pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars, it seems the Jets are not making their intentions with the second overall pick (Zach Wilson) any more secretive.
With the 49ers trading up for a quarterback and both Lawrence/Wilson expected to be off the board, there is a very good chance that the top four selections in the NFL Draft will be quarterbacks for the first time in history.
How does all of this impact the Denver Broncos and new GM George Paton?
It could have a fascinating ripple effect in a variety of ways…