Denver Broncos tried out a young QB and former fan draft crush
Before there was Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos fans everywhere had their sights set on a broad range of possibilities for the 2022 offseason at the quarterback position. At one point, that included the 2022 NFL Draft class. That’s right. There was a time when Broncos fans were considering the possibility of Kenny Pickett, Malik Willis, Desmond Ridder, and others in this year’s rookie crop as options to become the QB of the future in the Mile High City.
One of the players that Broncos fans seemingly loved more than others was former Nevada Wolfpack star quarterback Carson Strong, a big-bodied signal-caller who put some really impressive throws on tape in the last couple of years but had some major question marks regarding the present and future health of his knees. Regardless of his health status, many Broncos fans had taken a strong liking to Carson Strong’s game, and even with Russell Wilson in the fold, the idea of adding him to the roster became more and more enticing the further he fell in the Draft.
Carson Strong gets a tryout from the Denver Broncos
According to Field Yates on Twitter, the Denver Broncos fans that really wanted Carson Strong in this year’s draft circuit may eventually get their wish. According to Yates, the Broncos had a tryout/visit with Strong on Monday. Strong was signed after the 2022 NFL Draft initially by the Philadelphia Eagles, who gave him a whopping $320,000 guarantee. That’s certainly more than some late-round picks, so you wonder why the Eagles — or someone else — didn’t just draft the guy.
Throughout the preseason, Strong didn’t do enough to get a regular season spot from the Eagles. In somewhat of an odd move, at least not something that you see every time someone is let go by an NFL team, Strong posted some practice reps on Twitter making the case that he can still play and help some team.
The Eagles already had Jalen Hurts and Gardner Minshew when they acquired Strong, but they looked outside of Philadelphia for a third quarterback when they claimed former Saints draft pick Ian Book off of waivers. It certainly doesn’t speak well for Strong that the Eagles also kept young journeyman Reid Sinnett on the practice squad instead of Strong.
Still, Strong is a rookie and deserves a shot to develop somewhere. Why not Denver? Stylistically and physically, he could not be more different than Russell Wilson, but that’s not really an issue. If Strong can develop in Nathaniel Hackett’s offense and give the Broncos some good looks on the scout team, he might be worth one of those 16 spots (which are all currently filled).
The Broncos didn’t immediately sign Strong and they may never, but they did bring him in for a look. Perhaps he was just in to throw to Vyncint Smith or whoever else tried out at receiver. Perhaps the Broncos actually think something of Strong’s potential in the NFL, if even just as a backup.
One way or another, this is a match that many in Broncos Country were yearning for half a year ago. Now, most everyone could take it or leave it but adding Strong now that Russell Wilson is already in the fold, especially because he’s a free agent, would be a fun move.