Case for Broncos to target Justin Fields grows stronger

Last week, NFL.com draft analyst Chad Reuter laid out every NFL team’s “ideal” picks, assigning Ohio State quarterback prospect Justin Fields to the Denver Broncos.

In a division that features Derek Carr, Justin Herbert and Patrick Mahomes — not to mention a conference with Josh Allen, Deshaun Watson and Lamar Jackson — Reuter argues that Denver needs an “elite quarterback to contend for a title.”

Ideally for the Broncos, Reuter projects, Fields is that quarterback.

“Fields has a chance to be just as effective a quarterback as Watson because of his athleticism, arm strength and on-field leadership style,” Reuter writes.

And on Monday, ESPN football analyst Mel Kiper Jr. named Fields his “favorite” — though not necessarily top — quarterback of this year’s crop.

“Fields’ game has been picked apart during the pre-draft process, but he’d almost certainly be the top quarterback in most other classes,” Kiper writes. “He’s a special talent. I’ve never wavered on making him my No. 2 signal-caller behind Trevor Lawrence.”

Kiper added that he hopes Fields lands somewhere with “some weapons” on offense, like perhaps the San Francisco 49ers.

If that’s the case, Denver might be out of luck, as the 49ers own the No. 3 pick in this year’s draft and will have the luxury of picking between Fields, Trey Lance and Mac Jones. In fact, Kiper’s latest mock draft with colleague Todd McShay has the Buckeyes gunslinger heading to the West Coast.

Whether Denver opts to even draft a quarterback is still a question, as is which one of the likely three available do they prefer.

But if Denver does fancy an upgrade under center, and the experts are correct, Fields might be the man the Broncos should want to target next week.