The 2024 NFL Draft is getting closer. Analysts across multiple big networks have been releasing their predictions for the big event. With that being said, let's take a look at who these guys have going to the Denver Broncos with the 12th overall pick in their latest mock drafts.
NFL.com/NFL Network:
Daniel Jeremiah: DE Jared Verse, Florida State
""Denver is another potential landing spot for a quarterback. In this exercise, though, they complement some of the young talent in the secondary with a difference-maker up front.""Daniel Jeremiah
Bucky Brooks: QB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
""Sean Payton could target the Michigan standout as his QB1 of the future.""Bucky Brooks
J.J. McCarthy's draft stock is rising, as many believe that he could go as high as in the top 3. He is a very talented quarterback who can instantly become a starting quarterback in today's NFL.
Gennaro Filice: EDGE Laiatu Latu, UCLA (at 18th overall - projected trade with CIN)
""Moving down six slots in this simulation, Denver nets additional draft currency that could be used to select a quarterback like Bo Nix or Michael Penix Jr. on Day 2. At No. 18, though, the Broncos pounce on the most technically refined pass rusher in this draft class.Gennaro Filice
One important note: Latu’s combine medicals will be crucial, as the edge rusher was forced to temporarily retire from the sport in college due to a serious neck issue.""
If the quarterbacks go earlier than expected, trading down could be a very viable option for the Denver Broncos, as they lack draft capital due to the Russell Wilson and Sean Payton trades in the past two years. Trading back would not only give the Broncos more picks but could give them those extra picks to possibly trade up for a Day 2 quarterback. As I mentioned before in Jeremiah's pick, Denver does need front-seven help, and Latu could be a very interesting selection, but his health concerns could make him drop.
Dan Parr: QB Bo Nix, Oregon (at 18th overall - projected trade with CIN)
""Sean Payton is desperate for help after parting with Russell Wilson in this hypothetical and missing out on the first four quarterbacks off the board. Nix has the experience and intelligence to be a good fit in Denver.""Dan Parr
If Denver does not want to trade up for Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, or even J.J. McCarthy, Oregon's Bo Nix is still a great option, and here once again in a projected trade with Cincinnati. In this case, Denver would not only get their franchise quarterback but would get additional draft capital. Nix is a very experienced guy with 61 career college starts.
Chad Reuter: QB Drake Maye, UNC (at 4th overall - projected trade with AZ)
""With Harrison off the board, the Cardinals acquire a 2025 first-round pick, along with a third-rounder this year, to swap places with Denver. Head coach Sean Payton gets his new quarterback.""Chad Reuter
Trading up for a quarterback could also be an option for Denver. Obviously the lack of draft capital could be a problem here, but if Sean Payton wants one of the big-name guys, the Broncos must trade up. Moving up eight spots would not cost as much as moving to 1 or 2, and Maye is a quarterback that could be very worthy to trade up for.
Cynthia Frelund: CB Cooper DeJean, Iowa
""There is a long road between now and the draft. We’ll be watching to see what Denver does at the quarterback position, but Broncos Country, your team would immediately improve if you pick this very dynamic Iowa CB. Adding DeJean to complement Pat Surtain II would be pretty special. He has experience in off coverage, which allowed me to measure how he takes straight lines at a rate in the top 18 percentile (this can also be considered a gauge of his ball-tracking ability).""Cynthia Frelund
Frelund is someone who focuses mainly on analytics, as she mentions in her article, her mock drafts are different than the traditional ones. Corner is a position of need and adding one opposing Pat Surtain would be huge as Fabian Moreau and Damarri Mathis were not the best during last season. Defensive line and edge are positions that I would address before cornerback if none of the quarterbacks that Payton likes in round one are available but ... could be good, who knows? Passing on Bo Nix for a first-round corner?
Lance Zierlein: QB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
""NFL evaluators have described McCarthy's processing as elite in my conversations with them. Drew Brees was a great processer, but he didn’t have the same athletic ability that McCarthy offers. This just feels like a Sean Payton pick.""Lance Zierlein
Another one predicting Denver to select National Champion quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Can he be the Broncos next franchise quarterback?
Eric Edholm: DT Byron Murphy, Texas
""I know many will pine for a quarterback, but I think the Broncos will be hard-pressed to land a worthy talent at the position in this lofty draft slot. Instead, they could pivot to upgrading the interior D-line with an explosive penetrator such as Murphy, even if this feels a tad high for him.""Eric Edholm
McCarthy, Nix, and Penix are all available at 12, but the Broncos decide to address a very needed position at defensive tackle. This is a very interesting selection, as the three quarterbacks mentioned before are still on the board. I would like this selection, especially if Denver could trade up later in round one, or early round two to select Nix or Penix (assuming that McCarthy is already selected).
ESPN:
Mel Kiper Jr.: QB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
""This might be their only chance to add a high-ceiling signal-caller prospect this offseason -- and not mortgage their future to do it. They're almost certainly going to cut Russell Wilson, leaving a void on the depth chart. They don't have the cap space to try to add a veteran. Moving up from No. 12 might require a future first-rounder that would hamper them down the road. So why not take a shot on McCarthy?""Mel Kiper Jr.
Longtime draft analyst, Mel Kiper Jr., also has Denver going quarterback with the 12th overall pick. It seems like McCarthy is the guy for most of the analysts who have the Broncos going quarterback in round one.
Field Yates: QB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
There wasn’t a single QB with a better combine performance than JJ McCarthy pic.twitter.com/lB9zeYN6Dn
— Cam (@DrakeMayeFC) March 3, 2024
""While this slot is ahead of where McCarthy ranks on my board, this is a story as old as time: Quarterbacks almost always wind up going higher than expected in the draft. And Denver has just six total picks, the next of which comes in the third round, which limits its options. McCarthy is an accuracy merchant with very good mobility. Scouts believe he offers more as a thrower than we saw during his last season at Michigan when the Wolverines leaned heavily on a dominant defense and run game.""Field Yates
McCarthy showed during the NFL Combine that he is a very talented quarterback, a guy who can perfectly fit in Sean Payton's offense.
Matt Miller: QB Bo Nix, Oregon
""With Russell Wilson expected to be released, the Broncos are on the hunt for a new franchise quarterback. Nix is coming off a solid showing at the Senior Bowl, where team scouts raved about his interviews and the work he did in practice. Nix, who started for three seasons at Auburn before transferring to Oregon in 2022, is experienced and pro-ready, and he has the accuracy (nation-leading 77.4% completion rate) and second-effort mobility to work well with coach Sean Payton's scheme. This might feel early for Nix, but quarterbacks always rise, and scouts keep telling me that he is going to get drafted earlier than expected.""Matt Miller
Nix over McCarthy? College football experience could be an important factor in deciding which of the two to take if both are available at 12th overall. Nix is also a very talented quarterback, who can easily fit in Sean Payton's offense.
CBS Sports:
Ryan Wilson: DE Jared Verse, Florida State
""QB is a huge need here, but Sean Payton doesn't have a history of rolling the dice with rookie QBs. Instead, the Broncos bolster the pass rush with Jared Verse.""Ryan Wilson
Williams, Maye, and Daniels are all selected, JJ and Nix on the board, but Denver goes defense with Verse. He can easily be an instant starter in the Broncos' front seven.
Chris Trapasso: CB Terrion Arnold, Alabama
""More secondary help for the Broncos with the super-smooth, highly aware cornerback from Alabama.""Chris Trapasso
As I mentioned before, cornerback is a position of need, but others should be prioritized over a cornerback. If they select Arnold, the Broncos can easily have one of the best CB duos in the league. Arnold had a huge praise for Pat Surtain in the NFL Combine and having both in the secondary would be wild.
Josh Edwards: CB Terrion Arnold, Alabama
""Denver will be in the market for a quarterback in some capacity. The situation with Russell Wilson sounds irreparable based on his comments on Brandon Marshall 's podcast. If they stand pat at No. 12 overall, then they risk losing out on one of the top quarterback options as they do in this scenario. Instead, they take Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold and pair him with former Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain II.""Josh Edwards
Arnold could easily be the best corner in this year's class. Not my favorite pick at 12, but if it happens, it could end up being a very strong selection. Arnold and a day 2 or 3 QB could be good, depending on how the Broncos address free agency.
Tom Fornelli: QB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan (at 7th overall - projected trade with TEN)
""My lone trade has Denver jumping in front of Atlanta to get the QB it wants in Michigan's J.J. McCarthy. McCarthy didn't throw in college nearly as often as the other QBs in this class, but he's a tremendous athlete with a strong arm who can throw from multiple arm angles and gets through his progressions quickly. He's the kind of QB Sean Payton will want to lead the Broncos.""Tom Fornelli
As the draft gets closer, it seems like McCarthy is likely going to be Sean Payton's guy if they go quarterback in round one. In this mock, the Broncos get him by trading up with the Titans.
Following the round-up from these three big networks, let's summarize what these 15 analysts think the Broncos will do in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
- QB J.J. McCarthy - selected five times
- QB Bo Nix - selected two times
- DE Jared Verse - selected two times
- CB Terrion Arnold - selected two times
- EDGE Laiatu Latu - selected once
- CB Cooper DeJean - selected once
- QB Drake Maye - selected once
- DT Byron Murphy - selected once
Who would you like for the Broncos to select in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft?