Pattern emerging among mock drafts for Broncos at No. 9

As the football world marches on toward the NFL Draft at the end of this month, a pattern within various mock drafts has started to emerge.

While a sexy pick like a quarterback — especially since it’s position of need for the Broncos — can be found in many recent mocks, one name keeps popping up among the Trey Lances and Justin Fields: Penn State inside linebacker Micah Parsons.

In his first mock draft of the offseason, NFL Media analyst Charles Davis projects Denver to snag Parsons at No. 9, passing up on an available first-round quarterback prospect (Lance, who fell to the New England Patriots at No. 15).

“There are many options for the Broncos to consider here, including drafting QB Trey Lance, but they opt for the best LB on the board,” Davis writes.

Just a day earlier, Davis’ NFL.com colleague Charley Casserly passed up on not one but two quarterback prospects — Lance and Fields — at No. 9 to have the Broncos select Parsons as well.

Earlier this week, ESPN football analyst Mel Kiper Jr. also had Denver passing up the opportunity to select a quarterback (Fields) to take Parsons with its top pick.

In fact, over the past few weeks CBS Sports’ Jeff Kerr and Pete Prisco and The Ringer’s Danny Kelly all mocked Parsons to the Broncos at No. 9.

It’s no surprise Parsons is a top 10 pick, as DenverFan.com’s Cecil Lammey called him the “best linebacker in this class, regardless of ‘inside’ or ‘outside’ designation” in his draft preview on Friday.

But as his name pops up more and more in relation to the Broncos, it’s hard not to wonder whether these experts know something more about Parsons’ prospects of landing in Denver.

Broncos Country will get its answer to that question in less than two weeks’ time.

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