After moving on from Russell Wilson, the Denver Broncos are desperately seeking his replacement. With most of the top players already signing elsewhere in free agency, Sean Payton doesn’t have a choice but to turn to the 2024 NFL Draft for his next starting quarterback.
The only problem is that the Broncos have to wait until the 12th pick before they’re on the clock, and there are several other teams in desperate need of a QB upgrade with a chance to pick first. In a draft that’s expected to feature four, but possibly even five or six quarterbacks selected in the first round, the Broncos could miss out on the player they covet most.
Of course, Broncos GM George Paton could always get aggressive and trade up to avoid risking losing out on their top QB prospect.
Denver Broncos willing to trade Patrick Surtain II, targeting J.J. McCarthy
It’s a scenario Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline has heard as a real possibility dating back to the Senior Bowl, and now he says there’s word that Coach Payton is preparing to “give up a king’s ransom” to trade up for one of the top quarterbacks.
But how? The Broncos don’t have a lot of draft capital or a deeply talented roster after parting with several picks to acquire Russell Wilson and Sean Payton, leaving them without a second-round selection this year. Other teams like the Vikings, who boast the 11th and 23rd picks, may have more ammo to work with.
Yet, that doesn’t mean the Broncos can’t get creative, packaging a combination of players and picks to beat Minnesota’s best offer. In fact, Pauline’s NFL sources say “there’s talk” of the Broncos offering All-Pro cornerback Patrick Surtain II as part of their Godfather offer to move into the top-five picks.
In Pauline’s scenario, this means dealing with a couple of CB-needy teams, such as the Arizona Cardinals (No. 4) or the Los Angeles Chargers (No. 5). However, he suggests a move of this magnitude would require not only parting with PS2, but also the Broncos’ 12th and a 2025 first-round selection. That’s a heavy price to pay for a prospect you hope will turn into a starter.
Adding more, Pauline “continues to be told” that the Broncos are specifically targeting J.J. McCarthy.
“Which quarterback is Payton targeting Thursday? I continue to be told it is J.J. McCarthy, something I initially reported in my initial post-combine mock draft at the start of March. Payton wants a quarterback with outstanding intelligence and the ability to quickly get rid of the ball, and he believes McCarthy is the best fit.”
Sportskeeda’s NFL insider Tony Pauline on Denver Broncos’ NFL Draft plans
In other words, don’t expect the Broncos to begin the year with Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci as the only two quarterbacks on the roster, and the likeliest addition is expected to arrive via the first round on Thursday. But that’s only if the Broncos get their way.
Related: 2024 NFL mock draft: 6 QBs in Round 1 with Raiders, Vikings and Broncos trades
