The Denver Broncos are soon going to move on from high-priced quarterback Russell Wilson. It should happen during the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
This will leave a major void to fill under center for head coach Sean Payton and Co. The working theory right now is that Denver will use its first-round pick (12th overall) on a quarterback of the future. It could also trade up in hopes of landing reigning Heisman winner Jayden Daniels.
With all of that as a backdrop, let’s check in on five quarterback prospects Broncos fans should be paying close attention to during the annual combine in Indianapolis.
Related: Evaluating the top-10 quarterbacks in the 2024 NFL Draft
Jayden Daniels, LSU Tigers
Unfortunately, the reigning Heisman winner will join Caleb Williams in deciding against not throwing at the NFL Scouting Combine. That will be reserved for the LSU Pro Day. Daniels will take part in interviews with interested teams and their front offices. He’ll also meet with the media, which could be very interesting for Broncos fans.
- Jayden Daniels stats (2023): 72% completion, 3,812 passing yards, 1,134 rushing yards, 50 total TD, 4 INT
At this point, it’s hard to imagine Daniels falling past the Patriots’ pick at No. 3 overall in the draft. Denver would have to move up for the elite talent. New England is considering a potential trade down, making this a real possibility in the process.
Related: Denver Broncos’ Russell Wilson talks about his future and whether he wants to remain with the team
J.J. McCarthy, Michigan Wolverines
A recent report indicated that Broncos head coach Sean Payton is incredibly high on McCarthy after he led Michigan to the national championship a season ago. It’s interesting in that McCarthy entered the 2023 college football season as a likely mid-round pick.
Depending on how the remainder of the pre-draft process plays out, McCarthy could now potentially slide into the top 10. We’re intrigued to see how he tests at the combine. That is to say, generic drills such as the 40 as well as passing drills. There is certainly a question mark regarding McCarthy’s arm strength and upside heading into the annual event.
Related: 5 best Kirk Cousins landing spots, including the Denver Broncos
Michael Penix Jr., Washington Huskies
A Heisman finalist this past season, Penix Jr. is a major storyline heading into the NFL Scouting Combine. Most of it has to do with the injury concerns. That included suffering multiple torn ACL’s during his time with the Indiana Hoosiers before transferring to Washington.
More than any other top quarterback prospect in the draft, how Penix Jr. tests out physically will be a major storyline in Indianapolis. We’re 100% sure that the Broncos’ brass will be paying close attention to this. As for the fans, check out the passing drills. Penix Jr. has a live arm. It’s something to behold.
Spencer Rattler, South Carolina Gamecocks
Rattler is probably the most divisive quarterback prospect in the draft outside of the aforementioned Penix Jr. He was a top recruit heading to Oklahoma in 2019, but never panned out in Norman. After a ho-hum first season with South Carolina in 2022, he broke out big time this past year. That included the 6-foot-1 signal caller putting up 23 touchdowns compared to eight interceptions despite being the most pressured quarterback in college football.
Projections currently have Rattler anywhere between the late first round and Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft. Obviously, he has a lot to prove. Given his overall skillset and the Broncos’ need for a quarterback, keeping an eye on him will be big for fans in Denver.
Related: 10 prospects with the most to prove at the NFL Scouting Combine
Michael Pratt, Tulane Green Wave
There was a lot of buzz surrounding Pratt and the Denver Broncos during this year’s Senior Bowl. He is certainly one of the quarterbacks to pay attention to. We’re talking a signal caller with prototypical size and a strong arm. The opportunity will be there for Pratt to prove this to decision makers around the NFL.
As of right now, Pratt is projected as a Day 3 pick. But he could very well jump into the Day 2 conversation with a solid performance at the combine. It’s certainly something to keep an eye on.