For Broncos, isn’t it nice to have the quarterback riddle answered?

For the Denver Broncos, this year’s pre-draft process feels different than most of the last decade.

They’re not seeking a quarterback.

They were completely out of the market in some years in that span, to be fair — 2022, for one, because they had just traded for Russell Wilson. But in every other pre-draft process, one could discuss quarterback with some degree of need.

Even in 2020, one year after taking Drew Lock in Round 2, quarterback wasn’t off the table. And truth be told, in retrospect, the Broncos would have probably been wise to consider a trade up into the top four picks to select Justin Herbert, a passer they had liked through his development at Oregon, rather than putting all of their chips on a second-round quarterback with five inconsistent starts to his name.

But those are mistakes of the past.

For now …

“I appreciate not being in that quarterback market,” Sean Payton said on March 31. “That’s difficult.”

Instead, the Broncos can blessedly look elsewhere.

 

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LIKELY BRONCOS RANGE:

UNDRAFTED FREE AGENT — IF THEY ADD ONE AT ALL

Especially after the addition of Sam Ehlinger, don’t expect the Broncos to use a draft pick on the position unless they trade back into the seventh round to take a flyer on a quarterback they don’t want to risk losing in the undrafted pool.

It’s possible the only rookie quarterback — or quarterbacks — in the mix are ones brought in on a tryout basis for rookie minicamp, since you need someone to sling passes for the practices. But the reality of the situation is that there just won’t be many snaps to go around. The fact that Sean Payton chose not to use the full allotment of organized team activities matters, too; there are four fewer offseason practices than there were last year.

POTENTIAL BRONCOS FITS:

Cam Miller, North Dakota State: The NDSU product was one of the Broncos’ 30 visits in recent weeks, and he’s worth a late-round or priority free-agent look. His arm isn’t strong, but he can move, and he has an excellent natural feel for the rush, while displaying a willingness to work within the pocket. The major issue for him is that he doesn’t know what clubs he doesn’t have in his bag, and sometimes tries to make throws for which he doesn’t have the arm talent. But within a scheme, he could work. An intriguing long-term backup option to develop.

Brady Cook, Missouri: He has some athleticism, and his arm talent was better than expected during Shrine Bowl practices — the best among the quarterbacks on hand for the sessions in North Texas that week. He puts nice touch on the football and could end up fitting in the Chase Daniel mold — and not just because he’s a fellow Mizzou product like the now-retired longtime backup and former Payton passer, either.

NAMES TO KNOW:

DAY 1:

Cam Ward, Miami (Fla.)
Shedeur Sanders, Colorado

DAY 1/2:

Jaxson Dart, Mississippi

DAY 2:

Jalen Milroe, Alabama

DAY 2/3:

Quinn Ewers, Texas

DAY 3:

Tyler Shough, Louisville
Will Howard, Ohio State
Dillon Gabriel, Oregon
Kyle McCord, Syracuse
Riley Leonard, Notre Dame
Cam Miller, North Dakota State
Kurtis Rourke, Indiana

SLEEPER TO WATCH:

DILLON GABRIEL, OREGON: Intelligent and showed his capability to learn new schemes, going from Central Florida to Oklahoma to Oregon and maintaining his productivity without a hitch. He will keep the offense on schedule, is composed within the pocket and is a dynamic threat with his legs, which will allow him to keep a defense off-balance despite not having an explosive deep ball. Put him in a scheme like the one run by a coach on the Shanahan-McVay or Sean Payton tree, and he has an opportunity to flourish in the long term.

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