The landscape of the Denver Broncos should change drastically if the team continues its current 1-5 trend in 2023. One major change the team could make would be at the quarterback position. If the Broncos move on from Russell Wilson, it would signal the white flag on what should have been a franchise-propelling trade. If the Broncos move on from Wilson, a new signal caller will be in Denver, and the Broncos will be firmly back on the quarterback carousel.
Here are three college quarterbacks the Broncos could start in 2024 under Sean Payton. For the sake of this exercise, let's assume the Broncos do not land the first overall selection, and cannot draft Caleb Williams from USC.
3 2024 NFL Draft prospects at QB for Denver Broncos
1) Drake Maye, North Carolina
Drake Maye is likely the best quarterback in this draft cycle not named Caleb Williams. Maye, a UNC product, has all the physical traits and quarterbacking ability to make it as a legitimate starter in the NFL for multiple years, potentially becoming one of the game's better signal callers while he is around. Arguably, the only thing working against Maye is that he is not Caleb Williams and that he does not play at a traditional football school. Maye stands in at 6'5", 220 pounds, and will be 21 until just before the 2024 season begins, turning 22 on August 30th.
Maye has been on fire to start the year for North Carolina. He is completing 69% of his passes, has thrown for over 1,900 yards, and hit the endzone 12 times through six games. Maye is also an accomplished runner, which is a strong trait for any quarterback, let alone one of his size. Maye has run for 944 yards in his college career on 252 attempts, much of which have been kneeling out the clock.
If Maye were to leave for the draft, he could be in play for the Broncos. The Bears are likely to land at the first overall pick by way of the Panthers, and then potentially have the second overall pick through their own record. If this is the case, Maye would be sitting pretty for the Broncos, making him the next great quarterback in Denver.
2) Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
The Colorado Buffalos are still the talk of college football, despite their recent skid. Much of that has been due to the play of quarterback Shedeur Sanders, the son of coach Deion Sanders, and current Heisman Trophy contender. Sanders has burst onto the national scene, having thrown for over 2,400 yards, 21 touchdowns, and just three interceptions in his seven games so far this year.
Sanders is much more of a pocket passer than it might seem at first, considering Sanders has rushed for -23 yards this year. Sanders has 24 total touchdowns this year and is a play-making machine in Boulder.
Sanders figures to be one of the first quarterbacks off the board in the spring’s draft, but his lack of a track record against top-end collegiate defenses with NFL talent on their rosters might be cause for some teams to pause before taking the Buff. Sanders, however, has weapons all over the field. He is playing with NFL talent on his offensive roster, such as Travis Hunter, so exposure to high-level talent should not be too much of a change for the 21-year-old.
Sanders' passer rating of 160.3 is a strong number and ranks as one of the best in FBS. If Sanders can keep his strong campaign going, he could find himself on the Heisman stage and in the green room for the NFL draft.
3) Bo Nix, Oregon
Enter Bo Nix, college football's elder statesman. Nix is 23 and is on his way to being 24 before the NFL Draft next spring. Nix, originally an Auburn product, is now in his second year at Oregon and has the Ducks firmly in the hunt to make the College Football Playoffs. Nix, a five-year veteran of college football, is arguably the most dependable quarterback in college football year-over-year.
Nix has thrown for over 12,500 yards in his college career, compiling 85 touchdowns and just 24 interceptions. So far in his second senior year, Nix has thrown for 1,796 yards, 17 touchdowns, and just one interception and has the Ducks in the AP Top-25.
Nix, who has the feel of a smaller quarterback, comes in at 6'2 and 215 pounds. However, the deception of Nix's size comes with his strong running game. Nix has run for just under 1,500 yards in his college career, hitting the endzone 33 times. Overall, that gives Nix over 14,000 yards in his college career with 118 total touchdowns.
Nix has been a scoring machine, leading a team that is consistently ranked in the top-25, and has been conservative with the ball. Arguably the main knock on Nix is that he will be 24 by the time the next NFL season starts, and will be entering his prime years quickly after being drafted. If Nix continues to play at the level he is and the board falls a certain way for the Broncos, the Ducks' quarterback could become a target for the next quarterback in Denver.