5 quarterbacks Denver Broncos could get outside first round of draft

Dec 30, 2021; Charlotte, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Sam Howell (7) on the field in the third quarter during the 2021 Duke's Mayo Bowl at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2021; Charlotte, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Sam Howell (7) on the field in the third quarter during the 2021 Duke's Mayo Bowl at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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WINSTON SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 13: Carlos Basham Jr. #9 of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons sacks Sam Howell #7 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at BB&T Field on September 13, 2019 in Winston Salem, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
WINSTON SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 13: Carlos Basham Jr. #9 of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons sacks Sam Howell #7 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at BB&T Field on September 13, 2019 in Winston Salem, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

The Denver Broncos should be announcing the name of their new head coach soon, which will answer one of the big questions the team has right now. The other rests with the quarterback position.

There has likely never been a time in Denver Broncos history where there were so many questions concerning the team’s head coach and starting quarterback at the same time.

While the debate will rage on for the next couple of months as to whether the Broncos should go out and try to nab a veteran signal-caller or use a first-round pick to try and once again find the quarterback of the future, the team should look to add a quarterback in the draft.

If the Broncos were to figure out a way to get someone like Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson or Kirk Cousins to come to Denver, they could then back that player up with a quarterback in this draft class and perhaps, do so without using a first-round pick.

Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett will be a popular mock draft option for the Broncos with the No. 9 overall selection, but there are other players who could come in and sit behind a guy like Rodgers or Wilson for a couple of seasons and take everything in. And, they could probably get these guys after the first round.

Here are five of those players.

Denver Broncos, Carson Strong
Denver Broncos; Nevada Wolf Pack quarterback Carson Strong (12) throws against the San Diego State Aztecs during the second half at Dignity Health Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Carson Strong

Games Played: 32

Passing Yards: 9,379

Touchdowns: 74

Completion Percentage: 68.1

Strong is a second-round pick, but there is a chance that a team could fall in love with his abilities in the pre-draft process and take him in the back half of the first round.

He possesses perhaps the best overall arm talent in the class, highlighted by a quick release and textbook footwork. His accuracy on the short to intermediate throws is there and he has the kind of talent to absolutely light up a defense through the air.

At the next level, he will have to show that he can handle the pre-snap reads and decipher where the blitz is coming from as he has shown a propensity to panic a bit under pressure as well as make those Brett Favre-style boneheaded mistakes at times.

That said, if he is still on the board in the second round, the Broncos snagging him with that pick makes a lot of sense.