Parker Gabriel, Broncos beat reporter: OK, Ryan, the NFL scouting combine is off and running. Denver, of course, is in the quarterback market. Could be via draft, free agency, trade or some combination. We’ll hear from the 2024 class later in the week, but what’s also interesting is several dominoes could fall this week — or at least be primed to fall — and impact Sean Payton’s quest to find a franchise quarterback. At some point (likely next week), Denver will finalize its plan to release Russell Wilson. That will be a big in-house domino, but it’s widely expected. On Wednesday, the Jets confirmed they’re letting Zach Wilson look for a trade partner. Not exactly earth-shattering, but hey, it’s a domino. What other moves on the quarterback market are you watching this week and in the days before free agency?
Ryan McFadden, Broncos beat reporter: One QB I’m watching is Chicago’s Justin Fields. The Bears are in an interesting spot with an opportunity to select USC’s Caleb Williams with the first pick. Fields has shown the ability to be an effective starter, but will the Bears really pass on Williams? Could Fields be an option for the Broncos if they don’t? That might be difficult if Denver is wary of trading away more picks after the Wilson debacle. But I like Fields and am interested to see what his future holds. Baker Mayfield’s played himself into a sizable contract and I’m curious what the market will look like for Kirk Cousins after his return from a torn Achilles. Sam Howell is one quarterback who doesn’t get talked about and could be on the move. The Commanders have the second overall pick and may take North Carolina’s Drake Maye or LSU’s Jayden Daniels. If the Commanders decide to take a quarterback, do they keep Howell as a backup? Howell gave Denver problems in Week 2, but he finished 2023 with 21 interceptions.
Gabriel: Howell and New England’s Mac Jones could end up both available in addition to Wilson. Not a scintillating group, but the bottom line is if the Broncos want to get greedy, they’re hoping the teams ahead in the draft address the quarterback position in other ways. Denver would probably be very happy if Kirk Cousins returns to Minnesota (No. 11 pick) and Chicago trades Fields to Atlanta (No. 8 pick) or New England (No. 3), right? Or maybe Russell Wilson ends up in one of those places. Maybe the Las Vegas Raiders (lurking one spot behind Denver at No. 13) make a similar move for a signal-caller after jettisoning Jimmy Garoppolo. It’s far from a sure bet that signing Wilson or Cousins, each 35 years old and selected in the third and fourth rounds of the 2012 NFL Draft, respectively, would take a team out of the picture for drafting a quarterback. If you’re Denver, though, you want those teams at least thinking about other positions in the first round.