Ahead of OSU pro day, mock has Broncos taking Fields

The eyes of much of the NFL world, including Denver Broncos general manager George Paton, will be focused on Ohio State’s pro day on Tuesday, specifically trained at quarterback Justin Fields.

Whether Denver continues to have eyes for Fields by the time the NFL Draft rolls around at the end of next month remains to be seen, but at least one new mock draft has the Broncos pulling the trigger on the Buckeyes gunslinger at No. 9.

In his third mock draft for NFL.com, draft analyst Lance Zierlein prognosticates that Fields will indeed fall to Denver at their top pick after four quarterbacks go ahead of him in the top 10.

“Selecting Fields would be a bold — but potentially necessary — move for the team to take the next step,” Zierlein said.

In the mock, Zierlein projects quarterbacks to go 1-2-3 at the top of the draft — Trevor Lawrence to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Zach Wilson to the New York Jets and Trey Lance to the San Francisco 49ers, who just acquired the third-overall pick from the Miami Dolphins last week in a blockbuster trade.

Just before the Broncos pick, Zierlein has the Carolina Panthers selecting Mac Jones out of Alabama, whose pro day is also Tuesday. The Broncos are reportedly sending scouts to Tuscaloosa, but Paton will obviously not be there.