Stokley: Flacco trade doesn’t preclude Broncos from drafting QB at No. 10
Feb 13, 2019, 3:28 PM | Updated: Feb 14, 2019, 7:30 am
With the Denver Broncos agreeing in principle to acquire Joe Flacco from the Baltimore Ravens, the chances the team might select a quarterback in the first round of the NFL draft grew infinitely smaller Wednesday.
But, “Stokley and Zach” co-host Brandon Stokley, while saying he doesn’t Denver will go that direction, said on Wednesday the Flacco move doesn’t necessarily preclude the Broncos from drafting a quarterback at No. 10.
“Do I think they’ll draft a quarterback at No. 10? No, I don’t. I don’t think so. I’m not saying that’s what I’m predicting or I think they’re going to do that,” Stokley said. “But, to me, it doesn’t take them out drafting a quarterback at No. 10.”
Stokley said if the Broncos “love a guy” at quarterback, the right move is to take him.
“I don’t want to see a guy that we pass up be the next Patrick Mahomes. So, if you love a guy and he’s there, you gobble him up and take him. That’s what you do. That’s what good organizations do,” Stokley said. “You don’t pass up on a quarterback that you think is a potential franchise guy just because you made a trade for Joe Flacco.”
On Tuesday, before the Flacco trade, Stokley said passing up on a potential franchise quarterback in the draft is a greater risk than drafting him and it not working out.
“They both hurt. But, for me, it would hurt a little bit more if I’m watching that guy play great ball and I’m stuck not having a quarterback,” Stokley said.
Stokley said he’d prefer the Broncos build their strengths and go after a defensive player at No. 10 while potentially grabbing a quarterback later in the draft.
“I don’t think that they will be taking a quarterback in the first round, but I do still think that taking a quarterback is a viable option at some point in the draft,” Stokley said. “You saw that with Peyton Manning. They had Peyton Manning and they drafted Brock (Osweiler) in the second round. Maybe they do another move like that and get a quarterback later on in the draft.
“But, at No. 10, it’s probably a piece to keep your strength a strength. I want to keep this defense great.”
Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.
