The 2024 NFL Draft is finally here. In the next few hours, the best college players will hear their names called, starting with USC quarterback Caleb Williams, who’s expected to be the No. 1 overall pick to the Chicago Bears.
After Williams, there are tons of question marks, especially with numerous teams looking to trade up in the first round and even into the top 10.
One of those teams is the Denver Broncos, who are reportedly very aggressively trying to trade up in the draft to land who they expect to be their next franchise quarterback. Diana Russini of The Athletic recently reported the Broncos are so interested in trading up in the draft that rival teams think they’re considering dealing superstar cornerback Patrick Surtain, or other players on expiring deals.
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The Broncos currently hold the No. 12 pick in the first round. If they stayed at 12, they would likely miss out on the top four quarterbacks of the draft in Williams, LSU’s Jayden Daniels, UNC’s Drake Maye, and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy.
Recently, Denver legend Peyton Manning said the Broncos were interested in McCarthy, and if that were the case, they would likely have to target a pick starting at No. 4.
If the top picks end up being “chalk,” it’s looking like Williams, Daniels, and Maye going No. 1, 2, and 3. Then, McCarthy could go as high as No. 4, but that would only be if a team traded up with the Arizona Cardinals, who are set at the quarterback position with Kyler Murray.
If the Broncos are interested in one of the other three quarterbacks, they’d likely have to get into the top 3, which would mean trading with a QB-needy team and giving an absolute haul. Thus, they would likely have to move someone like Surtain, which would be a huge get for any team in the NFL.
Surtain, 24, is coming off back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons and was First Team All-Pro in 2022. He was drafted with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and has lived up to the hype as a shutdown corner in Denver.
Denver likely doesn’t want to part with Surtain, who hits unrestricted free agency in 2026. However, if it means locking down the quarterback position, one that hasn’t been secure since Manning got hurt in 2015, they would likely consider it.
Since then, the Broncos have had the following players suit up at quarterback: Brock Osweiler, Trevor Siemian, Paxton Lynch, Case Keenum, Joe Flacco, Drew Lock, Brandon Allen, Jeff Driskel, Brett Rypien, Teddy Bridgewater, Russell Wilson and Jarrett Stidham — and the famed Kendall Hinton, the wide receiver who had to suit up at quarterback during the 2020 season when the Broncos didn’t have an available quarterback due to COVID.
The Broncos clearly want to solidify that position, and they could be aggressive in making that happen on Thursday.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.