The Denver Broncos have made it clear they won't be going out on a limb for a quarterback at No. 12 in the 2024 NFL draft, but there's a twist to that statement.
During a recent chat, Broncos coach Sean Payton and GM George Paton mentioned that they'll be weighing positional value heavily during the draft. Payton laid it out, saying, "In our league, quarterbacks, tackles, corners, and pressure players have always been prized. We factor that into the grade. If we're in a group study in the fifth round and there are six players, with one being an edge player and the rest tight ends or guards, the edge player holds more value."
While they used a pass rusher as an example, the real spotlight is on the quarterback position. Denver might be open to selecting a QB higher than his big board ranking suggests, but there's a catch—it has to be "within reason."
Paton chimed in, explaining, "We're going through all sorts of clusters throughout the draft. We might have a guy in 'pod two,' who is ranked No. 1, and another in 'pod seven.' If the other guy is an edge player, we value him more. So, if it's within reason... You don't want to reach too far, but if they're in similar graded areas, then you go for the value position, whether it's quarterback, edge, or cornerback."
In essence, the Broncos are factoring in positional value, but they're also mindful not to stretch too far and pick a player too early just because of their position.
Exciting news for football fans: the draft will be broadcast on ESPN, ABC, and ESPN Deportes. This year, the Broncos have eight picks, adding to the excitement and anticipation of the event.
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