Sitting with the #12 overall pick in the first round of next week’s rapidly-approaching NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos are certainly a team to keep an eye on.
If there’s one thing head coach Sean Payton is most known for – other than being a control freak (in a good way) – it’s his extreme impatience.
You could certainly make the argument that he’s the most impatient coach in the entire league. He didn’t take the Broncos job to just sit around and wait for progress … He wants results and he wants them now.
Due to the historically-bad contract that Denver signed quarterback Russell Wilson to, Payton wisely gave him one year and one year only to prove himself.
Of course, we all know how that played out.
Wilson was a broken quarterback in Denver, and instead of pretending that he wasn’t, Payton wasted no time ripping off the band-aid – despite having to swallow a catastrophic dead-cap hit.
Fast forward to now – Payton and the front office know that they need a quarterback.
A stop-gap solution is nice, but one way or another they need to go fishing for a true franchise quarterback who will take them into the future and beyond.
With the #12 pick, the Broncos know they will most likely miss out on the top quarterbacks in the draft unless they trade up.
Perhaps they like one of the “other guys,” such as Bo Nix or Michael Penix Jr … However, with eight picks in the draft and other assets at their disposal, Denver will reportedly explore trading up to snag one of the top quarterbacks.
According to reports, Payton and the Broncos won’t hesitate to involve talented veterans such as All-Pro cornerback Patrick Surtain II and wide receiver Courtland Sutton in any potential trade.
Sutton’s absence from Denver’s voluntary workouts this week has only fueled speculation further, with reports indicating that the former Pro Bowler is seeking a new contract.
The departure of fellow wide receiver Jerry Jeudy earlier in the offseason has only amplified the pressure on Sutton to perform … The last thing Payton wants is for him to become a headache.
Meanwhile, Surtain, a cornerstone of the Broncos defense, has also found himself in trade talks.
The Broncos reportedly contemplated trading him ahead of the in-season trade deadline last season, only to reverse course when the team experienced a brief upswing on the field.
Payton most likely regrets the decision to hold onto him. As one of the best cornerbacks in the league, the Broncos could have received quite a haul in return for Surtain.
While the underrated Jarrett Stidham is currently penciled in as the starting quarterback following Wilson’s departure, the Broncos are expected to take a swing at the position in draft one way or another.
Perhaps Payton and the front office prefer to sit tight and draft the high-IQ Nix. Or maybe the strong-armed Penix. Or perhaps they feel strongly about one of the “lower” guys such as Spencer Rattler or Sam Hartman.
But don’t be surprised one bit if Denver ends up aggressively trading up to snag one of the top quarterbacks.
With Caleb Williams a near-lock for Chicago, and Jayden Daniels thought to be the heavy favorite for Washington, Drake Maye and the polarizing J.J. McCarthy could seemingly be up for grabs.
What are your thoughts on the report?
How do you rank the top quarterbacks in the draft?
If you had to get inside Payton’s head, what direction do you think he wants to take?
Who will Denver end up drafting???