Broncos pass on QB, pick CB in McShay’s latest mock

In what would likely be seen as a controversial move, the Denver Broncos are pegged to forgo taking a quarterback at No. 9 overall in the latest mock draft from ESPN senior writer Todd McShay.

Instead, according to McShay’s two-round mock released Thursday, the Broncos will opt to stay on the defensive side of things, drafting top cornerback prospect Patrick Surtain II out of Alabama.

“Depending on what GM George Paton thinks of QB Drew Lock, Justin Fields could be in play ­— as could a trade back with another QB-needy franchise,” McShay writes. “But Surtain is instinctive and a natural playmaker, and the Broncos’ 2020 opponents had an 86.3 QBR when targeting receivers.”

Fields, who has previously been mocked to the Broncos, goes two spots later to the New England Patriots after McShay predicts they will move up via a trade with the New York Giants to take the quarterback.

Several other prospects linked to Denver fall off the board in short order after the Broncos pick, including Penn State inside linebacker Micah Parsons at No. 12 to the Philadelphia Eagles and Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell at No. 13 to the Los Angeles Chargers.

Denver also deferred to the defensive side of things with their second pick at No. 40, where McShay mocks that they will take Washington defensive end Joe Tryon.

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