George Paton will be touring pro days in search of the next Broncos QB

The Denver Broncos are looking for an upgrade at the quarterback position. Even though new general manager George Paton says that he likes Drew Lock, he’s attempted to make moves – like trading for Matthew Stafford – to replace last year’s starter.

Earlier this month, Paton traveled to North Dakota to personally scout NDSU quarterback Trey Lance, who is seen as a top-10 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. It’s a clear sign that Paton is in the market for quarterback. And with the No. 9 overall pick, he admits that’s a direction he might go in.

At the Broncos free agency press conference on Thursday, Paton admitted that quarterback was in play with their first-round pick and that he will be attending more pro days looking for talent.

“(No. 9 overall) is in play for quarterback. Yes, I’ll be out (at pro days) a lot, looking at all positions, but definitely quarterback,” Paton said.

So, who could be next on the Paton road trip to find a quarterback? Let’s take a look.

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March 23 | Alabama

Mac Jones is Alabama’s starting quarterback, and he has the skill set of a first-round pick. Alabama is having their first of two pro days on March 23 because, why not? They have a ton of prospects for the NFL as per usual, so an added day for scouts to look at everyone makes sense. There will be a lot of teams there to scout Jones – and for good reason.

Jones has accuracy that I’ve described as “uncanny” because he can put the ball in an almost perfect spot on nearly every throw. He does not have a rocket arm, but it’s stronger than some give him credit for. Jones can work well within the short-to-intermediate throws and would fit in a system like the Saints or Patriots run.

I don’t think he’s a fit for what Pat Shurmur wants to do with the Broncos offense, but the team may think otherwise. Jones is smart and accurate, and that type of skill set could mean he shines for a long time in the NFL regardless of the system.

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March 26 | BYU

The NFL draft world has been going crazy over BYU passer Zach Wilson. Those who are ranting and raving about him now are late, because the first time I watched Wilson, I knew he had star potential – just like I saw in Josh Allen at Wyoming years ago. For those catching up, it’s fun to see what Wilson can do and there are even some crazy enough to throw around Patrick Mahomes comparisons.

Wilson is not Mahomes – nobody is – but he’s a very mobile quarterback who is a threat with his legs and his arm. He has the mobility to pick up first downs when there’s nothing there as a passer. Wilson does a good job of scanning the field and making a quick decision with the ball. I do not think he takes off to run too soon. Instead, he will exhaust all options before using his legs most of the time.

He is in consideration for the No. 1 quarterback in this class by multiple teams. That is usually reserved for Trevor Lawrence from the Clemson, but Wilson is seen as the better prospect by some teams out there. Because of his new-era skill set and supreme confidence as a passer, Wilson is likely to be the No. 2 pick in the draft.

That means if Paton falls in love with Wilson, he will need to move up to get him – and that may prove to be a nigh-impossible task.

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March 30 | Ohio State

When the Ohio State Buckeyes hold their pro day near the end of the month, Paton will be there to watch multiple defenders, but also first-round quarterback Justin Fields. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Broncos selected another defensive player from the Buckeyes like they did with Dre’Mont Jones a couple of years ago. However, they need to be considering Fields as well because unlike Lance, Wilson or Lawrence, Fields may be there when the Broncos pick.

Fields has the makings of a Pro Bowl quarterback. The best thing about his game is the ability to throw accurately and on time from a moving pocket. The Buckeyes chose to utilize that type of pocket to make the most of his athleticism. He is well versed in option and RPO football, so a pro team will get a dangerous player who understands how to fake out defenders.

He does need to speed up his process as a passer and therefore, he might be on the board when No. 9 rolls around. Fields has a natural throwing motion, but I think at times he’s too late with his read and that leads to more sacks. He’s making multiple reads, but I’d like to see better anticipation as a passer. With his upside as a quarterback, some team before the Broncos pick could decide to take him and develop him behind a starter. Watch out for the Falcons here who have Matt Ryan winding down his career.

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March 31 | Florida

Although he’s not graded as a first-round quarterback, Florida’s Kyle Trask could be a second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. He was supposed to participate at the Reese’s Senior Bowl earlier this year, but an ankle injury knocked him out of action. Instead of practicing during the week in front of scouts in Mobile, Trask chose to rehab the injury and get ready for his pro day.

Trask has an inconsistent game, but the tools are there for him to be better in the NFL than he was in college. He was patient and waited for his chance to start with the Gators. A lot of young quarterbacks will get impatient and transfer to another school to start. That’s not the case with Trask, who didn’t start until his redshirt junior year.

He can be used on designed quarterback runs, but nobody is going to mistake him for a mobile quarterback. Instead, he’s big enough to plow over a defender or fall forward for tough yards when asked to run. Trask is smart and makes quick decisions as a passer, often painting the perimeter with his throws. He can throw at all levels accurately but needs to stay on script to get the most out of his game. If the Broncos wait until Day 2 of the draft to select a quarterback, then Trask should be near the top of the their list.

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