JOHN CLAYTON

Clayton: More intrigue at the QB position impacts the Broncos draft plans

Apr 21, 2021, 5:06 PM | Updated: 6:08 pm

The quarterback draft continues to get more interesting with each passing day. And it has an effect on the Broncos.

It’s starting to sound as though the Atlanta Falcons are considering taking a quarterback with the fourth pick of the draft. They are also listening to trade offers. What might be happening in Atlanta is owner Arthur Blank is getting himself involved, knowing that drafting a quarterback would generate more interest for the Falcons among the fans.

The problem is that Matt Ryan has $65.4 million of remaining proration on his contract. He might have to stay around for two years to avoid major dead cap issues.

What has happened is that the Falcons are starting to be not as high as taking Oregon tackle Penei Sewell with the fourth pick. To take Sewell, they prefer doing it after trading down.

They are high on Florida tight end Kyle Pitts. Moving back would be a gamble, however, as he won’t fall far.

The second development is Justin Fields revealed that he has epilepsy. It’s something that has been in his family and older members of his family tend to grow out of the epilepsy when they get into their mid-20s.

The epilepsy has not caused him any problems playing football. Still, you wonder if that might drop his stock a little bit. Fields is still a top-nine choice and could go as high as No. 3 to San Francisco. I still think the 49ers are going to take Alabama quarterback Mac Jones.

For the Broncos, it remains a question if a quarterback will fall to them with the No. 9 pick. You wonder how they feel about Fields’ epilepsy.

Another day passed and Teddy Bridgewater remains with Carolina. If the Broncos were to get Bridgewater, they have more flexibility in just taking the best player available or trading down and getting value.

This isn’t a good draft, but the quarterbacks continue to make it real interesting.

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Clayton: More intrigue at the QB position impacts the Broncos draft plans