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Denver Broncos land Aaron Rodgers in trade before this 7-round mock draft

By Travis Wakeman

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - NOVEMBER 21: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers looks to pass against the Minnesota Vikings in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 21, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - NOVEMBER 21: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers looks to pass against the Minnesota Vikings in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 21, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /
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Dec 3, 2021; San Antonio, TX, USA; Western Kentucky Hilltoppers quarterback Bailey Zappe (4) throws a pass in the second half of the 2021 Conference USA Championship Game against the UTSA Roadrunners at the Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2021; San Antonio, TX, USA; Western Kentucky Hilltoppers quarterback Bailey Zappe (4) throws a pass in the second half of the 2021 Conference USA Championship Game against the UTSA Roadrunners at the Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports /

Bailey Zappe, QB, Western Kentucky

In addition to trading for Rodgers, the Broncos will choose not to re-sign Bridgewater. The team won’t draft a quarterback early on but on the third day of the selection process, they take this intriguing prospect out of Western Kentucky.

Zappe’s name is one that would not have been on anyone’s radar earlier in the season and probably still isn’t on many, but it should be. Though the numbers in college don’t always translate to the professional game for quarterbacks, this kid has put up numbers that can’t be ignored.

Following the Hilltopper’s win over Appalachian State in the Boca Raton Bowl, Zappe finished the season with 5,967 yards passing and 62 touchdowns on the year. Yes, that was for one season.

Both of those marks broke NCAA single-season records, the touchdown pass record being previously held by Joe Burrow.

Zappe will be knocked down boards for the fact that this was his only season at the FBS level, having come from FCS Houston Baptist.

He doesn’t have a rocket arm and he will not blow you away with his arm talent. But he throws a good, accurate ball and looks to have good movement inside the pocket, always keeping his eyes downfield.

Most importantly, he put up big numbers at a school that is not necessarily an offensive powerhouse, one that had games against seven teams that advanced to bowl games this year and stayed competitive in most of them.

Zappe will fly under the radar, but he could be a great backup quarterback with enough upside to develop into a more than serviceable starter later down the road.

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