Denver Broncos: 3 things I like, 3 things I question from 2021 NFL Draft
By Noah Smith
What I Questioned: Confusion of the Quarterback Position
George Paton has spoken openly all offseason about upgrading the quarterback room for the Denver Broncos. On the opening night of the NFL Draft, Paton had the prime opportunity to do just that but passed on both Justin Fields and Mac Jones.
While I think the pick of Patrick Surtain II is an excellent one, the confusion of the scenario presented to the Broncos at number 9 overall is certainly worth noting. In an interview with Michael Silver, Silver noted that the Broncos “really, really liked Fields”, but “loved Surtain even more”.
The addition of Surtain immediately adds depth to the current cornerback room for the Denver Broncos, while also giving them a long-term shut-down corner. But when a quarterback of Fields’ caliber falls to you with the 9th overall pick, the value of the quarterback position seemingly makes the pick a no-brainer.
The truth is we likely never know how George Paton evaluated Justin Fields as a prospect. Fields may have been a significantly worse prospect than Surtain in Paton’s mind, and the NFL as a whole was seemingly lower on Fields than the average draft analyst.
It’s been no secret that the Denver Broncos have had a massive hole at quarterback since Peyton Manning retired, leaving fans rightfully frustrated with the decision at the top of the 2021 NFL Draft. Let’s hope George Paton truly believes in Drew Lock or has plans to allure a certain future Hall-of-Famer to the Mile High City.