The Denver Broncos have a solid defense and two nice playmakers at wide receiver.
They also have a Super Bowl-winning head coach who could take them to the next level.
What they don’t have, however, is a franchise-caliber quarterback.
Russell Wilson has regressed vastly since arriving in Mile High, and judging by Sean Payton’s words and actions, he’s not a big fan of him.
With that in mind, it’s not much of a surprise to see ESPN’s Field Yates’ latest mock draft.
He believes the Broncos will use their No. 12 pick to get their quarterback for the future, going with Michigan standout J.J. McCarthy (via Zach Stevens).
McCarthy is perhaps the rawest prospect of all quarterbacks projected to go in the first round.
He’s not as polished as Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, or Drake Maye, and he might not have their upside, either.
Nonetheless, he has some interesting traits and could be molded nicely to whatever suits Sean Payton, as he’s still young and has shown an outstanding work ethic and continuous improvement.
The Broncos will have a tough time competing in the AFC West.
The Las Vegas Raiders should also be in the mix for a new quarterback, and the team looked much better under Antonio Pierce’s tutelage, especially against divisional foes.
The Los Angeles Chargers will also be a dark horse with Jim Harbaugh taking the reins of the team, and the Kansas City Chiefs are the defending champions, so the Broncos can’t afford to mess things up with their pick.