Broncos 3-round 2022 mock draft with team netting two first-round picks
Third-Round, No. 96 overall: Bailey Zappe, QB, Western Kentucky
The Broncos wait until the end of day two to add a quarterback. Going into this draft, the hope would be that adding a quarterback won’t be a pressing need, but that will depend on what the team does prior to the draft.
Nevertheless, Bailey Zappe was still on the board in this spot and is an intriguing enough prospect to take a shot at. This may be a bit too high to take him but the team decides to pull the trigger on a guy who could surprise at the professional level the same way he did for the Hilltoppers in 2021.
He played just one season at Western Kentucky after transferring over from Houston Baptist, a tiny school out of the Southland Conference. All Zappe did in 2021 was passed for 5,967 yards and 62 touchdowns, setting single-season NCAA records in both categories.
He doesn’t have the kind of arm strength pro scouts generally salivate over but he displays solid footwork, is incredibly accurate, particularly on the short to intermediate throws and his deep ball is always laid out right where it needs to be for his receiver to make a play on it.
He also shows a high football IQ and a good understanding of what is in front of him.
Zappe has the traits that generally fit a backup quarterback at the pro ranks but in today’s NFL, a backup quarterback is called on much more often than not. In addition, he has enough raw talent that could be developed into a guy a team could count on for a lot more in the future.
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The Broncos have a lot of picks and if they hit big in free agency and have a nice offseason prior to the draft beginning, they’ll have the ability to roll the dice here.