Denver Broncos: 2021 NFL Draft latest rumors
Looking through the lens of the NFL Draft first, there are a few routes that the Denver Broncos could now take if they want to address the position:
- Be patient, stay put at pick number nine hoping that Fields, Lance, or Jones falls in their lap.
- Take an aggressive, yet not reckless, approach and sit back and maneuver in the draft. What I mean by this is that if pick number seven comes up, and say Justin Fields or Trey Lance are still on the board, make an offer to the Detroit Lions to jump up to number seven and select one of these quarterbacks.
- Go all in, make a deal with the Atlanta Falcons and take your guy if he falls to pick number four.
- Take a flier on a mid-round quarterback like Davis Mills or Jamie Newman in hopes they push incumbent starter Drew Lock enough to help raise him to his full potential.
The San Fransisco 49ers are honestly the biggest wild card in the NFL draft. While we all know that they are certainly taking a quarterback, it’s just which one they are planning on selecting. There are contradicting rumors all over the sports world right now, including ESPN’s own Adam Schefter stating on the DiPietro, Canty, and Rothenberg Radio Show,
"It’ll be Mac Jones; I believe that in the end, they will pick Mac Jones at three, that’ll be the pick, and they will keep Jimmy Garoppolo this year. Adam Schefter"
The reports that they are egregiously asking for a first-rounder for Jimmy G almost support this hypothesis, as I really do not see anyone paying that price for an unproven, often injured, and expensive quarterback.
There have also been reports early in the draft process that the Atlanta Falcons really liked Trey Lance, so did the 49ers move to three to snag Trey Lance, or simply just to make sure they get the guy they love in Mac Jones?
Either way, this scenario would actually be beneficial to the Denver Broncos if they believe in and fall in love with Justin Fields, who will actually be participating in another pro day at Ohio State on April 14th. If the 49ers take Jones, then the chance for the Broncos drafting Justin Fields or Trey Lance drastically improves.
While they may have to give up future draft capital to move up in the range of picks 4-8, if George Paton believes in one of these guys, then he’s got to go for it.
As far as adding a mid-round guy, that really isn’t the route I think the Denver Broncos should take. Could a guy like Jamie Newman develop into a guy? Sure. Could Ian Book maybe develop into a career backup? Sure.
That just isn’t something the Denver Broncos should invest draft capital in right now. They already have Brett Rypien on this roster who fills the role as the career backup, and Drew Lock as the guy with the high upside.
If the Broncos draft a quarterback, I think it has to be either Justin Fields or Trey Lance. Mac Jones may prove me wrong, as I have been wrong before, but he just really isn’t the guy I would be mortgaging the ninth overall pick and/or future day one and day two picks on.