Pritchard: Denver Broncos offseason moves ‘dictating’ the draft

Last week as the ink was drying on Case Keenum’s two-year deal with the club, a strong Denver Broncos contingent — including general manager John Elway, head coach Vance Joseph, and personnel evaluators Gary Kubiak and Matt Russell — attended the pro days of both quarterbacks Josh Allen and Baker Mayfield.

Elway, Fan Football Insider Cecil Lammey reported Saturday, was one of just a handful of GMs in Norman, Oklahoma, for Mayfield.

“Who else was there? (Mike) Maccagnan, the Jets’ GM,” Lammey said.

Just a handful of days later, New York traded its pick at No. 6, along with three second-rounders, for the Indianapolis Colts’ third-overall selection in order to be in a position to, Lammey said, draft Mayfield.

“This trade now, the Jets moving up three, that’s a QB,” Lammey said on Monday. “That’s Baker Mayfield or Josh Allen.”

The Broncos — who requested Mayfield be placed on the Senior Bowl squad coached by its staff, interviews the Sooners quarterback at the NFL Scouting Combine, and plan to bring him in for visit to Dove Valley — made the Jets feel so “nervous” about missing out on the gunslinger that they traded up in the draft, Lammey said.

And whether Denver wants Mayfield doesn’t matter, Lammey’s “Cecil and Pritchard” co-host, Mike Pritchard, said on Monday. They’re “dictating the draft.”

“Whether the Broncos want Baker Mayfield or not, they are playing this draft. They are making people make moves that they’re probably uncomfortable with making,” Pritchard said. “Giving up three second-rounders to move up three spots from No. 6 to No. 3 just to secure the fact that you’re going to be able to select a quarterback.”

Lammey said it’s almost as if Denver moved up from No. 5 with at least one of several “can’t-miss” prospects sliding to them with quarterbacks likely going early in the draft.

“There are four can’t-miss players in this draft. None of them are QBs,” Lammey said. “If QBs go one, two, three, now all of a sudden, you’ve moved all of those four can’t-miss players down to you, in your neighborhood, at No. 5.

“You’ve moved in the draft without … They’ve been a player without having to give up anything.”

Pritchard said the Broncos can pick up a Minkah Fitzpatrick, Bradley Chubb, or Quenton Nelson — “maybe even Saquon Barkley” — depending on how the first round falls.

“You slide them down to No. 5 to where, now, if you’re Denver, you don’t necessarily have to move,” Pritchard said. “You don’t have to trade up. You can still secure all of your picks this year and future picks.”

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @johnnyhart7.