Broncos Land Drake Maye in Blockbuster Mock Draft Trade Package
With the Super Bowl in the books, buckle up for what could be a blockbuster #DraftSzn around Denver Broncos HQ. Head coach Sean Payton spent a lot of time making the rounds at Radio Row last week, and much of those conversations revolved around the Broncos' quarterback situation, obviously.
We learned how much Payton prioritizes and values his quarterback to be a "quick processor," and we also learned that the door hasn't completely closed on the possibility of the Broncos working things out with Russell Wilson.
Payton flirted with the subject of the Big 3 quarterbacks in the 2024 draft class with the respective hosts who interviewed him. Sitting at No. 12 in the first round, if Payton has any hope of actually landing one, he'll have to find a willing trade partner in the top-3 and put together an offer-they-can't-refuse package.
That's how Trevor Sikkema at Pro Football Focus appears to see things shaking out for Payton, with the Washington Commanders trading out of the No. 2 overall spot to allow the Broncos to draft North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye. First, let's examine the compensation.
Commanders receive: A 2024 first-round pick (No. 12), a 2025 first-round pick, a 2025 second-round pick and a 2026 first-round pick.
Broncos receive: A 2024 first-round pick (No. 2).
I believe the market for quarterbacks in this draft will be red hot, and we’ll see that solidify after free agency.
Teams such as the Falcons, Raiders, Broncos and Vikings will all be looking to move up for a quarterback. Here, I have an aggressive Sean Payton moving from No. 12 to No. 2 by giving up the same compensation package the 49ers offered to move up from No. 12 to No. 3 for Trey Lance in 2021.
Broncos Country winces at the notion of giving up first-round picks in each of the next two drafts, especially in the wake of not having a Day 1 selection since 2021. However, Super Bowl LVIII illustrated how the NFL is an all-or-nothing league.
A team either has a franchise quarterback and all things or possible. Or it doesn't, and nothing can forestall that team from a disappointing finish in the standings.
The question for Payton's Broncos isn't what they'd be willing to relinquish to move up to No. 2; rather, it's what wouldn't they be willing to give up? Especially if it meant solving the quarterback problem and giving the Broncos more than a puncher's chance at competing for World Championships.
Patrick Mahomes isn't going anywhere anytime soon. I have a two-year-old son. The 28-year-old Mahomes could still be playing well into my boy's early high school days.
That illustrates the arms race in the AFC West, and the Broncos, as it stands, are lacking the firepower. The Las Vegas Raiders are in that race, too.
Payton is going to maneuver this offseason, and it's going to be costly. But he knows he's not impervious to the consequences of NFL head coaches failing to move the needle, so he's got to shoot his shot now.
Maye would be an excellent fit for the Broncos. How well he'd fit the "quick processor" requirement for Payton remains to be seen, based on his scouting reports, but his talent and football IQ aren't in question. There's a reason Maye is universally viewed as QB2 in this class.
A recent rumor suggests that Maye's stock is on the decline, but I'll believe that when I see it. He's a bonafide top-5 guy, which gives the Broncos their target zone if they want to land him.
Time will tell whether PFF's latest mock draft is a foreshadowing of the Broncos' future. For now, we can only hurry up and wait.
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