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.
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.
Sam Howell
Games Played: 37
Passing Yards: 10,283
Passing Touchdowns: 92
Completion Percentage: 63.8
Sam Howell certainly saw his draft stock take a hit as this past season wore on. I can remember looking at mock drafts around this time last year for the 2022 draft and seeing him as the No. 1 overall pick, the same slot the player he is most often compared to, Baker Mayfield, was taken at.
While he is a likely second-round option now, like Strong, there is a chance a team takes a shot on him in the first round.
Howell is much better than Strong pre-snap and as a result, is able to decipher where each throw needs to be made in an impressively quick manner. His accuracy on the short to intermediate throws is nearly perfect.
The aspect of Howell’s game that a team will most appreciate is his competitive toughness, where he is willing to take contact to pick up yardage with his feet.
He can be erratic on throws down the field as his timing will need some work in order to shore up his habit of forcing throws into bad spots, but this would be another pick that would make sense for a team with a solid starter in place.
Desmond Ridder
Games Played: 50
Passing Yards: 10,239
Touchdowns: 87
Completion Percentage: 62.1
Desmond Ridder was another first-round prospect for much of this season but will likely fall in the draft after a rough performance in the College Football Playoff against Alabama, which scouts will see as similar to going against an NFL defense.
In that game, he went 17-of-32 passing for just 144 yards while leading the Bearcats to just six points. As a result, he could slip down the draft board and possibly even into the third round.
Ridder has a good arm and he can make all of the throws. The accuracy is there and the intangibles, such as making plays when things break down, are there. His weakness at the next level could be reading defenses pre-snap.
Ridder needs to be able to better diagnose the blitz as during his time at Cincinnati, he was sacked far too often. Behind an average to below-average offensive line, things could get very ugly for him at the pro level.
He would be a solid pick for the Broncos if the team was able to trade for a player like Rodgers or Wilson. Sitting behind a guy like that and learning how things work at this level would be invaluable.
If he goes to a team that expects him to be a day one starter, he could get washed out of football quickly.
Bailey Zappe
Games Played: 14
Passing Yards: 5,967
Touchdowns: 62
Completion Percentage: 69.3
Bailey Zappe is an exciting prospect who could range anywhere from a serviceable starter in the league to a good career backup, but the upside is absolutely there.
After transferring from Houston Baptist, Zappe played just one year with the Hilltoppers but no matter how you slice it, his numbers are impressive.
He was able to break the all-time FBS record for passing yards and passing touchdowns in a single season, but it will be his lack of arm strength that knocks him down draft boards.
While he doesn’t have the strongest arm, he might possess the best anticipation of any player on this list. His anticipatory throws are terrific and show a high level of knowledge for the position and the game in general. He is also able to change arm angles to make tough throws and his accuracy on short to intermediate routes is right there.
If he could come into a situation where there was a great, established option in front of him and soak up that player’s knowledge, Zappe could be a great option for NFL teams.
If the Broncos were able to trade for Rodgers or Wilson and then draft Zappe in the fourth round, I don’t see how anyone could argue that decision.
That would be the kind of pick that earns an ‘A’ letter grade in post-draft report cards.
Brock Purdy
Games Played: 48
Passing Yards: 12,170
Touchdowns: 81
Completion Percentage: 67.7
Brock Purdy is an interesting prospect as his draft grade seems to be anywhere from the fourth round to undrafted free agent, but teams willing to do some homework on him could find a future prospect.
Purdy was all the rage for a bit at Ames as he led the Cyclones to some big conference wins in his career, but his draft status has certainly started to slide during his tenure there as he was once seen as a potential first-round pick.
Purdy doesn’t have enough arm talent to win on that alone at the next level, particularly down the field. He too often accepts the check down pass (that will sound familiar in Denver) and when he does take a chance, it sometimes leaves you shaking your head as to what he could have possibly been thinking.
That said, his mechanics are solid, he has enough mobility and touch on his throws to get the job done, plus he is really good at working through his progressions.
In the right system, he could find a home in the NFL to be a quarterback teams are willing to call upon, especially in today’s NFL climate in which teams are routinely having to use multiple quarterbacks each season to get through COVID protocols.