For Denver Broncos GM George Paton: Where is the new QB?

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — George Paton has adopted a legend by displaying as much as work whereas it’s nonetheless darkish exterior.

He spews no-nonsense scouting jargon throughout press conferences. He takes personal jets north, south, east and west to personally watch Professional Days of No. 9 total draft choose caliber gamers.

He has transferred labored ethic to execution by remodeling the cornerback place from the roster’s No. 1 weak spot to one in every of its strengths with the free-agent signings of Ronald Darby and Kendall Fuller.

He made substantial monetary commitments to convey again the favored Von Miller, Justin Simmons and Shelby Harris and acquired one other key participant, Kareem Jackson, at a 50 p.c low cost.

He did let the equally widespread Phillip Lindsay go. No person in NFL personnel bats a 1.000 as judged by its fan base.

However 2 ½ months into his first basic supervisor’s job, Paton has changed John Elway to rave opinions each nationally and, extra importantly, domestically.

There’s yet another catch: The place, by George, is the brand new quarterback?

Paton has mentioned “now we have a plan” to enhance the quarterback place that at the moment holds Drew Lock because the starter, and “we’re not going to pressure it.” One plan was Matthew Stafford however he went to the Rams as a substitute. There additionally appeared to be mutual curiosity between the Broncos and Deshaun Watson, the as soon as disgruntled now embattled Houston star. That plan, if it ever acquired to the intense stage, would seem like on a prolonged maintain, if not useless.

In the meantime, the underwhelming free-agent market has been picked over leaving the growing older Alex Smith and the acquired-taste Nick Mullens all that continues to be as backup prospects.

So what’s Paton’s plan now? Listed here are some prospects:

The Jaguars (No. 1 total choose), Jets (No. 2), 49ers (No. 3), Falcons (No. 4) and Panthers (No. 8) might all used their prime picks on a quarterback. As soon as these draft picks have been secured, the incumbent starters for these groups – so as, Gardner Minshew II, Sam Darnold, Jimmy Garoppolo, Matt Ryan and Teddy Bridgewater – might in flip all be had in commerce, though it’s been reported Darnold, Garoppolo and Ryan aren’t obtainable.

The Bears’ Nick Foles could also be one other chance after Chicago introduced in free-agent Andy Dalton to start out. As a lot as any QB within the league, Foles is a backup who can play effectively off the bench, whereas additionally struggling when he turns into the No. 1.

Minshew, Carson Wentz and Mitch Trubisky have all performed effectively with Foles as their backup. Possibly Foles is what Lock wants.

The Broncos don’t have a lot ammunition from this 12 months’s draft to maneuver up as they’ve only one choose in every of their first six rounds. However groups have been just lately dumping future first-round picks like disposable COVID masks in relation to getting their quarterback.

It’s 99.9 p.c sure Jacksonville will take Trevor Lawrence with their No. 1 total choice and the 49ers will take a QB at No. 3.

It’s additionally extremely probably the Jets will choose a QB at No. 2.

But when one of many prime 4 groups don’t take a QB, Paton might think about making a transfer for the Bengals’ No. 5 total choose. Cincinnati acquired its quarterback final 12 months with Joe Burrow by way of the No. 1 total choose.

Swapping out the No. 9 choose, whereas including a present second-round choose and 2022 first-round choice could be sufficient for the Broncos to leap No. 8 Carolina and take both Mac Jones, Trey Lance or Justin Fields – offering Paton covets a type of QBs and the one he covets remains to be there by choose No. 5.

When the 2020 faculty season ended, Ohio State’s Justin Fields was thought of the second-best QB prospect behind Lawrence whereas Alabama’s Jones was rated fifth. Now, it appears, Jones is No. 3 behind Lawrence and Zach Wilson and forward of Lance and Fields. There’s a nonetheless one other month to shift the order.

Possibly by not forcing it, Paton can get a rookie QB he likes by staying affected person. If not, he can resort to Plan 1 and commerce for a veteran QB after the primary spherical.

Anybody who mentored Patrick Mahomes II is the best of mentors. A superb runner earlier than his devastating leg damage that included a compound fracture, life-threatening an infection and 17 surgical procedures, Smith solely rushed for 3 yards in his comeback season final 12 months and threw 8 interceptions towards simply 6 touchdowns. Nonetheless, he rescued Washington by profitable his final 5 begins.

Smith wouldn’t play forward of Lock however he could be the kind of backup QB who makes Lock higher. Which is finally the best-case state of affairs for the Broncos – that their very own, younger, but pretty seasoned quarterback develops right into a better-than-average NFL starter.   

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