Mile High Sports
Tomorrow night, the 2024 NFL Draft kicks off with the first round.
And because they went on a run in the middle of last season, the Denver Broncos pick No. 12 overall.
While the obvious biggest need on the team is at quarterback, the Broncos will likely miss out on the top-4 QBs. That’s the bad news.
The good news is it opens Denver up to take a possible great player at a number of other needy positions.
QB or not QB? That is the question.
And in all likelihood, the Broncos will probably go after another need at No. 12 overall.
Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, and J.J. McCarthy are expected to go in the top-10, and possibly in the top-6 picks.
What about Denver moving up in the NFL Draft? Sean Payton called it realistic a few months ago. But is it really?
The short answer is: No. The Broncos don’t have a second-round pick and only the 20th-ranked draft capital, or not enough to package together and move up significantly. Another possibility is the team trading a veteran player, like Courtland Sutton, Garett Bolles, or Patrick Surtain as part of a package to move up. But those seem unlikely, too, outside of Sutton.
So, Denver should either take the best fit possible at 12, or trade back, acquire a pick and still get a great player.
And Mike Clay’s ranking of position groups backs up that point. With the Broncos being so needy at so many positions, they’ll have an opportunity to land someone special at a position of need.
2024 NFL Unit Grades – Pre-Draft Edition pic.twitter.com/JbFRnTQfmJ
— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) April 23, 2024
As you can see here, the Broncos are the 3rd-worst team in the NFL based on these unit grades. Only the Washington Commanders have a worse QB unit, and only the New York Giants have a worse starting safety duo. Also of note, their 0.8 grade at EDGE is 6th-worst, and the Broncos are 7th-worst at WR, 8th-worst at TE.
Where the Broncos shine is on the offensive line (10th), and cornerback (10th).
So, can this clue us into where Denver is likely to pick tomorrow and this entire upcoming weekend?
Most NFL Draft “experts” have the Broncos taking one of four positions: QB, OT, EDGE, or CB.
But, do all of those actually make sense at 12?
If we rely on Clay’s unit ranks, quarterback, EDGE, and tight end seem to be the most needy positions.
And if the Broncos stay put, there will be some enticing options at those spots.
At QB, even if the top-4 guys are off the board, there will be a few options.
Namely, Bo Nix, and Michael Penix Jr.
Bot the former Oregon and Washington QBs are old as they come out of college: Nix is...
