Does Rams' Trade for No. 1 Pick Affect Broncos' QB Search?

The Los Angeles Rams and the Tennessee Titans put the sports world on its ear Thursday when it was announced the first overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft was changing hands. In exchange for the No. 1 overall pick, the Titans received the Rams’ original first-round pick at 15th overall, two second-round picks (43rd and 45th overall) and a third-round selection (76th). The Titans will also get the Rams’ first- and third-round picks in next year’s draft.

The Denver Broncos have had to change their plans at the quarterback position this offseason. With Peyton Manning retiring, the team turned their attention to retaining Brock Osweiler. They made an offer to Osweiler, but he instead chose to sign with the Houston Texans.

The Broncos have reported interest in trading with the San Francisco 49ers for veteran quarterback Colin Kaepernick. With a fully guaranteed salary of $11.9 million in 2016, Kaepernick may not want to take a pay cut and give up guaranteed money to sign with the Broncos.

If things fall through with Kaepernick, the Broncos might be looking for a starter in the draft. However, in this quarterback-desperate league (see the Rams trade), the stockpile of quality passers could dry up quickly during the selection process.

How does the Rams-Titans trade affect the Broncos' search for a quarterback? Let’s take a look.

Goff or Wentz?

The Rams moved up in the draft for a franchise quarterback, but which one will it be? Reports differ at this time, but the team has about two weeks to hammer out the details.

Some think that Jared Goff (California) is going to be the top pick. Goff is a smart quarterback with a quick processor he uses to rapidly scan defenses when looking to throw the ball. Even though he lacks a rocket arm, with proper footwork and arm mechanics, Goff can make every pass required in the NFL. He needs to do a better job of leading his receivers, as he would too often put the ball in a spot where defenders could swiftly crash in on a wideout almost immediately after the catch.

Others believe that Carson Wentz (North Dakota State) is the player the Rams moved up for. Wentz is an athletic quarterback who can keep plays alive with his feet while keeping his eyes downfield. He’s known as a great leader, and Wentz has no problem challenging the edges of the defense with his arm.

Back-to-Back QBs?

Ron Schwane/Associated Press

The next pick after the Rams belongs to the Cleveland Browns. There’s a good chance that we see quarterbacks go off the board with the first and second pick in the draft—even if it’s not the Browns picking at second overall.

Earlier this offseason, the Browns added free-agent quarterback Robert Griffin III to the mix. He has plenty of starting experience, but the 2012 Rookie of the Year has a lot to prove after his career with Washington fell apart quickly due to injury and inconsistency. New head coach Hue Jackson should get the most out of Griffin, but the team may also want to see what a rookie could do as their potential franchise quarterback.

With the Titans moving back and the Rams jumping up, the Browns' pick now becomes hotter than ever. Any team interested in Goff or Wentz is likely giving Cleveland a call. If the Browns get the right price, then perhaps they’d prefer to gather a collection of picks and move back in the draft rather than select a passer.

To Kaepernick or Not to Kaepernick?

Ben Margot/Associated Press

The 49ers are the next team up in the draft with a glaring need at the quarterback position—if they don’t want to trade away Colin Kaepernick. New head coach Chip Kelly brings his revolutionary system to the West Coast, but we may see someone like Blaine Gabbert as the team’s starter to open up the season.

Kelly is supposedly more attracted to the idea of making Gabbert better than drafting a quarterback, according to CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora. Gabbert is trying to rebuild his image after the former first-round pick (2011) of the Jacksonville Jaguars saw his career get off track. He wasn’t terrible last year for the 49ers, and the new coaching staff may give him the fresh start he needs.

If Gabbert isn’t the answer and the team keeps Kaepernick, then the draft may be the place the team finds a solution. It would be tempting for the 49ers if someone like Goff fell to them with the seventh overall pick. In fact, the 49ers may be one of the teams that are calling Cleveland to move up to No. 2.

If Goff is gone, then Paxton Lynch could be the next quarterback prospect on the 49ers' board. Lynch is a player the Broncos may have a shot at if he falls in the draft, but this pinch at the position due to the Rams trade may cause the Memphis quarterback to go off the board with a top-10 pick.

Surprise Teams

Brandon Wade/Associated Press

There are a number of teams out there who may surprise in the first round by selecting a passer instead of another team need.

The Dallas Cowboys may want to find a quarterback of the future—and improve the current backup situation behind Tony Romo. With the fourth overall pick, we could see the Cowboys snare a quarterback instead of a pass-rusher—especially if Goff or Wentz is still on the board. Romo is a fine starter, but his injury history is so long it reads like Infinite Jest. The Cowboys need a better backup plan in case Romo gets hurt again so they can make a playoff run in 2016.

The Philadelphia Eagles added Sam Bradford and Chase Daniel in free agency earlier this year, but they too may be in the market for a rookie quarterback early in the draft. After upsetting the quarterback market with a contract that pays Bradford an average of $17.5 million annually, the Eagles could drastically alter the plans of teams behind them if they take a rookie quarterback with the eighth overall pick.

The New Orleans Saints have been showing interest in top-rated rookie quarterbacks during the predraft process as they hold the 12th overall pick. Mike Silver, from NFL.com, tweeted Monday that Goff was going to visit with the Saints this week. Tom Pelissero, from USA Today, reports via Twitter that Lynch visited with the Saints on Thursday.

What’s interesting to note is that the Saints already have three quarterbacks on the roster, including last year’s third-round pick Garrett Grayson—a player some thought could be the team’s quarterback of the future.

The Buffalo Bills may not be convinced that Tyrod Taylor is their long-term solution at the position. Taylor was signed by the Bills in free agency last year, and he turned in a good season as their starter after spending years with the Baltimore Ravens as Joe Flacco’s backup. If the team wants to find a different potential franchise quarterback, then they me be interested in adding a passer with the 19th overall pick.

The New York Jets seem to be at an impasse with free-agent quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. They could sign him as a free agent, but his price tag may be more than they want to pay at this time. With the 20th overall pick, the Jets might be one of those surprise teams to add a quarterback in the first round of the draft. Any rookie added would compete with Geno Smith and Bryce Petty in camp.

Summary

The Broncos are wisely being patient with this quarterback situation, but the time of action will soon be at hand. The NFL draft is less than two weeks away, and we’re unsure who the Broncos' best option at quarterback is going to be for 2016.

There’s a good chance that Wentz, Goff and Lynch—at least—are off the board by the time the Broncos pick at the end of the first round. That would make prospects like Connor Cook (Michigan State), Christian Hackenberg (Penn State) or Dak Prescott (Mississippi State) options for the Broncos at varying points in the draft.

Cook played in a pro-style system for the Spartans, but he’s not exactly “pro-ready” as a quarterback. He never had a 60 percent completion rate in college, and Cook failed to throw a touchdown in both the Big Ten Championship Game against Iowa and the College Football Playoff game against Alabama. In fact, in the two biggest games of his career, Cook was a 49 percent passer and threw three picks. Add in questions about his attitude, and this makes Cook a risky selection at the end of the first round.

Hackenberg has the prototypical size of an NFL quarterback. Measuring in at 6’4”, 223 pounds, Hackenberg can see the field clearly as he determines where to go with the ball. While Hackenberg can stand tall in the pocket, he needs to improve his feel for the rush and stop locking onto initial targets as a passer.

Prescott may be more of a second- or third-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft. He’s incredibly athletic and can be used effectively as a rusher on designed runs for the quarterback. Playing behind a bad offensive line with the Bulldogs, Prescott did what he could to show improvement as a passer during his senior year. He had a strong showing at the 2016 Reese’s Senior Bowl earlier this year, but a DUI arrest only a few days after his pro day puts his draft stock in question.

The Broncos may not only add one quarterback through the draft, but they could also bring in another passer via free agency or trade. Whatever is in the future for the Broncos, we’re going to get some answers in the near future. Hopefully, the Broncos can get more than answers—and get a solution to their quarterback problem in the next couple of weeks.

All quotes and injury/practice observations obtained firsthand. Record/statistical information provided via the Broncos' media department unless otherwise noted.

Contract and salary-cap information provided by Spotrac. Transaction history provided by Pro Sports Transactions. Draft grades provided by NFLDraftScout.com.