What if the Denver Broncos don’t acquire Aaron Rodgers or another star QB in a trade? We take a look at an option in the 2022 NFL Draft gaining steam.
The Denver Broncos have a fun offseason ahead of them, don’t they? As of right now, the Broncos have filled two major holes that existed a little over a year ago.
They have one of the most highly respected general managers in the NFL — George Paton — who is coming off of an outstanding “rookie” season on the job with a great rookie class and a few big-money contracts to in-house players that have set this team’s core up well for the future.
They also now have a head coach that was specifically selected by Paton — former Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett — to lead the team.
The third major piece should be coming very soon — a new quarterback.
Will the Denver Broncos use their top 2022 pick on a QB?
Anytime an NFL team hires a new GM, you can almost take it to the bank that they will find their own head coach and quarterback. Those are the hills you ultimately live or die on as an NFL general manager, and for Paton, the decision at quarterback will be coming very soon.
As of right now, everyone’s attention is obviously on Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He will be the first domino to fall and that could happen literally at any time. Last year, Matthew Stafford was traded to the Los Angeles Rams on January 30, although the trade could not become official until mid-March.
That remains the case as of right now, but the Packers could technically agree to trade Rodgers anywhere at any moment.
Rodgers has stated that he will make his decision about whether or not to stay in Green Bay before free agency, but because this is such a massive holdup for other teams, could we see a decision sooner?
Maybe. For the time being, the Denver Broncos should be evaluating all options and keeping those options open. As much as Broncos Country has its collective heart set on getting a star QB in the building — be it Rodgers or Russell Wilson or someone else — there exists a possibility that none of those players will come to Denver.
It could end up being the NFL Draft route for George Paton and Nathaniel Hackett, and that idea has gained some legitimacy just by way of the team hiring a young, offensive-centric head coach along with a young offensive staff.
I want to look at a Denver Broncos mock draft scenario exploring this potential option, specifically taking a guy early in the 2022 NFL Draft.