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ESPN Insider's New Prediction has Broncos Fans Scratching Their Heads
Would another first-round cornerback be the answer to getting the Denver Broncos back in the playoffs?
The Denver Broncos have arguably the worst quarterback situation in the NFL. It just so happens that Denver is also sitting on the No. 12 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.
Decisions, decisions.
Staring down the barrel of Jarrett Stidham being this team's QB1 for 2024, why not draft a cornerback at pick 12 instead? That's how ESPN's Mel Kiper, Jr. is seeing things shape up for the Broncos in Round 1, anyway.
Whether you're inclined to agree with his logic, here's what Kiper wrote in his latest mock draft:
"I thought hard again about giving the Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (Oregon), but I talked myself out of it. I just don't think Nix is a first-round signal-caller. I have a Round 2 grade on him based on everything I've seen on tape. He lit up defenses for the Ducks the past two seasons -- he had 74 touchdown passes to just 10 picks -- but there's some risk involved based on what he was asked to do in the Oregon offense. His average pass traveled 6.3 yards downfield last season, which was sixth shortest among 125 qualified FBS quarterbacks, according to ESPN Stats & Info," Kiper wrote.
"Instead, Denver can look to improve a defense that ranked 30th in yards per play allowed (5.8) last season and pair Mitchell with Pat Surtain. Mitchell, my top-ranked cornerback, had 46 pass breakups in four seasons at Toledo, and he ripped off an elite 4.33-second 40-yard dash at the combine. He's ready to play early and often as a rookie."
Indeed, Nix was still on the board when Kiper took Mitchell at No. 12. Kiper has USC's Caleb Williams going No. 1 overall, followed by LSU's Jayden Daniels at No. 2, and UNC's Drake Maye at No. 3.
In a bit of intrigue, Kiper has the Minnesota Vikings trading up to No. 5 in a deal with the Los Angeles Chargers to draft Michigan's J.J. McCarthy. The first non-QB to hear his name called in Kiper's mock is Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. at No. 4 to the Arizona Cardinals.
The next QB off the board in Kiper's mock is indeed Nix, with the first pick in the second round, landing on the opposite coast with the New York Giants. As Kiper writes, he simply doesn't view Nix as a first-rounder.
In a perfect world, Mitchell landing in Denver at No. 12 overall would be awesome and quite the upgrade at cornerback. But the 'Godfather of the NFL draft' is missing the forest for the trees.
How many playoff berths has Patrick Surtain II delivered for the Broncos? How about Von Miller post-Peyton Manning? Or Justin Simmons? Right. None.
The truth is, an NFL team is dead in the water without a franchise quarterback. Now, that doesn't mean the Broncos should draft a QB at No. 12 just for the sake of drafting a signal-caller.
But the mandate is clear and urgent, and frankly, it's not far removed from the black-and-white decision point above. Beggars can't be choosers, and the Broncos are in a position where they may have to be willing to take a risk on a QB that, in a vaccum, they wouldn't otherwise consider.
Don't think for a second that this NFL reality has escaped Sean Payton. And if it has, then I've missed the mark on my view of the 20th head coach in Broncos history.
Stay tuned. The 2024 NFL draft kicks off on April 25, little more than two weeks from now.
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