On April 5th, another major domino fell at the quarterback position. Former New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold is now joining the Carolina Panthers in exchange for multiple draft picks. The package included a 6th round pick in 2021 as well as second and fourth-round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft. This is a fair deal for each side as Darnold gets a fresh start, the Jets acquire multiple picks, and the Carolina Panthers just possibly acquired their future franchise quarterback. How does this affect the Denver Broncos’ plan to address the quarterback position?
At the very least, this will probably take the Panthers out of the quarterback market in the 2021 NFL Draft, as they immediately picked up Darnold’s 5th-year option at over $18 million in 2022. It would be wise for them to add some protection for Darnold in the likes of a Rashawn Slater with the 8th overall pick.
They still could shock everyone and add a Justin Fields if he were to somehow slide down to the 8th spot, but that is highly unlikely. Trading back for the Panthers could now be an option with teams like the New England Patriots, Washington Football Team, Chicago Bears, and maybe even the Pittsburgh Steelers. Matt Rhule could be looking to add pieces to his roster that fits what he wants in his second year as a head coach.
There are still options out there for the Denver Broncos, but the list of feasible options at the quarterback position is slowly dwindling if the Broncos are looking to push Drew Lock.
First and foremost, there really are only two quarterbacks that the Broncos will have a chance on at the top of the 2021 NFL Draft. Three teams at the top of the draft are all but locked in to select three out of the top five quarterbacks in this year’s class: the Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets, and the San Fransisco 49ers. Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson are slotted to go one and two.
This leaves the Denver Broncos with the possibility of adding either Justin Fields, Mac Jones, or Trey Lance, and only two of the three will be available no matter where the Broncos are selecting.
There is also the trade route, which offers players like Gardner Minshew, Nick Foles, and Teddy Bridgewater. Alex Smith, a current NFL free agent is also an intriguing option. While Smith certainly hasn’t been brought up as much as the other options, he could be a sneaky last resort after all of the dust settles.
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.
With Sam Darnold now a Carolina Panther, Deshaun Watson and all of the swirling allegations around him, and Russell Wilson looking like he will be a Seattle Seahawk for his career, who are the Broncos options via trade?
-
Nick Foles
-
Teddy Bridgewater
-
Gardner Minshew
There really is only one player on this list that I would even consider, and that is Gardner Minshew. Yes, Nick Foles was productive in Shurmur’s (Chip Kelly’s) offense, and Bridgewater was brought into the league under a regime that George Paton had a predominant role in, but that was several years ago.
Teddy Bridgewater signed a lucrative $63 million contract over the span of three years in 2020 with the Carolina Panthers. It took them a whopping entire year to potentially run him out of town in favor of newly acquired quarterback Sam Darnold.
While he is still currently on the Panthers’ roster, they have granted him permission to seek his own trade after the organization failed to do so itself, prior to the Darnold trade. That is ultimately saying, we wish you the best Teddy. Would Bridegwater be someone I think the Broncos should consider if he were to be released, maybe?
I just don’t think the Broncos should give up any draft capital for Bridgewater, especially at his salary. When I think of Teddy Bridgewater, my initial reaction is “ehhhh.” We have seen enough quarterbacks here in the past five years that bring a sigh at the initial reaction.
Nick Foles has had one of the strangest careers I can remember. The former 2018 Super Bowl MVP tossed 27 touchdown passes to only two interceptions in 2013, yet Foles never has been able to really secure a long-term starting job in this league.
The NFL is a what have you done lately league, as it should be. In the past two years, he has “done nothing for me lately,” after signing a massive four-year deal worth $88 million in 2019 with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Shortly after the massive deal, sixth-round pick Garndew Minshew would actually uproot Foles and become the starting quarterback in Duval County. If the Denver Broncos could trade for one of the former Jaguars quarterbacks, why would it be the one who lost the competition? Could Foles probably come in and spot start, play some decent football in a couple of games? Possibly. If the Denver Broncos are looking to bring Foles into this position group, who would Nick Foles be competing with, Brett Rypien or Drew Lock?
Foles in my opinion, shouldn’t be considered.
The one trade target that I think GM George Paton should actually put his bid in on, would be for Gardner Minshew. He is a young, cheap option who really outright outplayed Nick Foles. While he isn’t Russ Wilson and Foles isn’t Matt Flynn, this was a similar situation.
Foles had just signed a monstrous deal, like Flynn, but Minshew a 6th round pick just came to play. He won’t be Russell Wilson, I am not saying he will be by any means, but I just value a guy who comes in and puts in work against all odds, including a newly signed, expensive quarterback. It shows who he is not only as a football player but as a person.
Minshew also would probably cost an early day three pick, which is basically throwing darts at that point anyway. If they were to trade for Minshew, that would mean that the Broncos didn’t address quarterback in round one, which there is a good chance they would have traded back at that point anyway and actually added draft capital. While he does have issues with fumbling, he has thrown 37 touchdown passes to only 11 interceptions in his career. That is a pretty good TD: INT ratio if you ask me.
Fumbles are an issue that can be improved. Better offensive line play along with wide receivers like Jerry Jeudy getting open immediately, he might not be so prone to holding onto the football which can be the cause of some fumbles. The Jacksonville Jaguars also haven’t had a stacked roster, and the weapons really have not been in his favor, yet he posts a TD: INT ratio well over 3:1.
Minshew also came into the Mile High and actually led the Jaguars to a 26-24 victory. He made some impressive plays within the pocket, making multiple Broncos whiff, including stud pass-rusher Bradley Chubb, on a dazzling touchdown pass in the back of the end zone.
Alex Smith is the free-agent quarterback that isn’t getting talked about enough. He is someone I would actually consider bringing in under the scenario that Denver Broncos:
- Were not able to land Justin Fields or Trey Lance
- Did not actually fall in love with any of the draft prospects this year
- Were not able to get a trade done with the Jacksonville Jaguars for Gardner Minshew
Smith, a highly capable bridge quarterback would be a 17-year veteran who is a former number one overall pick. His career started off a bit rocky with the San Fransisco 49ers, but a trade to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2013 helped jumpstart his career.
He has missed two seasons throughout his career, one with a shoulder injury back in 2008, but more recently and importantly in 2018 with the serious infection in his leg. The infection was actually life-threatening and put his future in serious doubt, life and in football.
While his stats are certainly those of a game-manager, I’d consider him the more talented of the group that includes Bridgewater and Foles. He has been the most consistent, and if the Broncos brass does not select a premium quarterback and puts their faith in Drew Lock for one more year, I’d prefer Smith to be the one who is behind Lock as he at minimum, started the majority of his career.
He has also been well respected and liked in the locker room, something that is a valuable quality in a veteran, mentor quarterback like Smith. Pat Shurmur’s offense is also off of the Andy Reid tree, which Smith had his most successful years under during the span of 2013-2017. During those five years, he tossed 102 touchdowns in comparison to only 33 interceptions. That holds up to be a 3:1 TD: INT ratio, which is highly impressive.
This would be the last resort in my opinion, so if the Broncos are unable to draft Fields or Lance, or even trade for Minshew, this is when I would turn to Alex Smith. He shouldn’t be too expensive and is an outright free agent that would require zero draft capital in return.
If the Denver Broncos took this route, the most important aspect of this would fall back to the draft. If they do not select a quarterback in the top 10 of this year’s draft, then I would highly suggest trading back in round one. This could be vital to the team’s future, adding a future first-round pick would be my top priority.
With a trade back or two, the Broncos could add a future first, as well as extra day two picks this year. While the Broncos don’t have glaring needs right now, they do have to add some future contributors in the following positions:
-
Cornerback
-
Offensive Tackle
-
Linebacker
-
Safety
-
Edge Rusher
In the 2021 NFL Draft, the meat of this group is on day two. If the Broncos were able to address the top 5 positions I mentioned above by the end of day two, this draft could still be very important, regardless of adding a quarterback. Trading back, giving Drew Lock one more shot as he deserves, and adding Alex Smith would set this team up for 2022. This scenario would play out just fine in my opinion.
If the Broncos decide to bring in Minshew or Smith, they can continue to fill this roster out by trading back in the draft. This would give the 2022 Denver Broncos flexibility to maneuver the NFL Draft, or even give them ammunition to trade for a current quarterback if one were to come available. Imagine coming out of this draft with the additions of players like Jamin Davis or Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Greg Newsome II, and Richie Grant to an already stout defense.
If we learned anything from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ latest Lombardi hoisting, it’s that the best defense to stop Patrick Mahomes is a very fast, phenomenal defense. That isn’t to sound like captain obvious, but I think a lot of people get stuck in this world where they try to compete point for point with the rival Kansas City Chiefs, instead of literally throwing everything in to keep them down.
The Broncos could also add a few pieces to the offensive side of the ball in this scenario. Studs like Javonte Williams and a talented offensive tackle should be on the table here for Coach Mike Munchak to develop. In addition, trading back should also warrant a future first-round pick, and all of this could simply be had by the end of day two of the 2021 NFL Draft.
On the contrary, Fields or Lance gives the Broncos a highly talented prospect. Both of these quarterbacks could eventually become superstars in their own respects, but if it had to be done via trade up, it could wind up being very risky. As a former scout, if Paton falls in love with one of these prospects, I have faith in his decision, but I’m leaning towards Fields.
Ultimately, I have my opinion just like many others in Broncos Country, but I still reside on giving Drew Lock one more shot. He should remain on this roster while entertaining the idea of signing Alex Smith, trading an early day three pick for Gardner Minshew, or trading up for Justin Fields.
Denver Broncos 7-round mock draft: Sifting through latest rumors
The Denver Broncos and new GM George Paton have assembled a strong foundation. How will they add to the team in the 2021 NFL Draft?
This team is close, but I still believe the Broncos could use one more solid draft class to be able to make a serious push on the Kansas City Chiefs. Adding Justin Fields, or trading back and multiplying picks could solidify this haul, and be the final piece to the puzzle.