Clayton: Broncos check off first agenda item – head coach

New coach. New quarterback. New ownership.

The Denver Broncos took care of their first main agenda item by hiring Nathaniel Hackett as their head coach. They didn’t go for Dan Quinn, who opted Thursday to stay with the Dallas Cowboys. They didn’t wait for Kevin O’Connell of the Los Angeles Rams.

Hiring Hackett could lead to the new quarterback agenda item. It sure looks more and more that the Broncos have the lead to get Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers likes Hackett. They worked together in Green Bay. It would be an easy sell to him to link up with Hackett. Getting Hackett is another signal that Rodgers will be ready to move on.

The timetable for franchising players starts in February. Rodgers first wants to see what the Packers do with Davante Adams, his favorite teammate. The Packers are $40 million over the cap. The franchise tag for the Packers could be in excess of $17 million. And it’s not out of the question that Packers will have to be part of a rebuilding process because of the cap.

Rodgers did say he doesn’t want to be part of a rebuilding process. It will take time to sort through the six current bidders for the franchise. But the Broncos now have a coach. They can point to a quarterback. It’s a busy time.