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NFL Rumors: Teams Believe Broncos Are a 'Sneaky QB-Hungry Team' Entering Draft
April 19, 2021
The Denver Broncos are reportedly among the teams that could target a quarterback high in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated described the Broncos as a "sneaky quarterback-hungry team" heading into next week's draft.
The Jaguars, Jets and 49ers are set to take quarterbacks with the first three picks, leading to several speculating that the Falcons could trade out of No. 4 if another team wants to leap up for a signal-caller. Denver has the ninth pick in Round 1.
That the Broncos would be categorized as "quarterback-hungry" is no surprise. The team has tried and failed to find competency at the position since Peyton Manning's retirement after the 2015 season. Denver's team quarterback rating of 72.5 was the lowest in the NFL, and the team has ranked in the bottom 10 in each of the last four seasons.
The Broncos haven't had an above-average team quarterback rating since 2014.
Drew Lock served as the primary starter last season but has failed to show much promise since being taken No. 42 overall in 2019. Lock threw for 2,933 yards and 16 touchdowns against 15 interceptions last season, showing no signs of progress despite the Broncos heavily investing in skill-position talent during the draft and free agency.
Jerry Jeudy, KJ Hamler, Tim Patrick and Courtland Sutton have the makings of a strong wide receiving corps, to go along with Noah Fant at tight end. If the Broncos can find more consistency on the offensive line and nab a franchise quarterback, they'll be well set up for the future.
It just remains to be seen whether the Broncos see that quarterback among the 2021 crop.