Clayton: Jimmy G’s availability could change the draft for the Broncos
Apr 27, 2021, 2:07 PM
The quarterback drama in the 2021 NFL Draft continues to grow, roughly 48 hours before round one gets underway.
Stories out of San Francisco indicated the 49ers might trade Jimmy Garoppolo before or during the draft. That’s so much different from what everyone thought after San Francisco moved up to the No. 3 overall pick.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan said he liked the Kansas City model of drafting a first-round quarterback and letting him sit the first year. That would mean keeping Garoppolo and letting him start this season, and then getting rid of him next year – just like the Chiefs did with Alex Smith and Patrick Mahomes.
The thought now is if the 49ers take Alabama quarterback Mac Jones, they think Jones might be smart enough to learn the offense and start this year. While the 49ers had been asking for a first-round pick for Jimmy G, they might lower the demand to a second- or third-rounder and move him quick.
You figure the New England Patriots would be all in on that. While many think they might trade from the 15th pick into the top 10 to get a quarterback, they could trade back from 15 and get Garoppolo.
This plays into the Broncos thinking. Yes, they could consider trading for Garoppolo. But if he does get traded, it would eliminate one of the three teams trying to move up in the top 10 for a quarterback. New England, Washington and Chicago are shopping for quarterbacks.
If no one trades to No. 7 or No. 8, the Broncos could have one or two quarterbacks available at No. 9. They could also trade up with the Detroit Lions at No. 7 to be sure they get a rookie quarterback, particularly Justin Fields, who can challenge Drew Lock this season.
Florida tight end Kyle Pitts, considered the best non-quarterback position player in the draft had an interesting comment. He believes four quarterbacks will go in the first four picks. Remember, he’s a player who could go at No. 4.
If it goes the way Pitts is thinking, the Broncos may have only one quarterback who could fall to No. 9. That would make it more of a thought to trade to No. 7.
In this draft, it’s all about the quarterbacks. And that front got even more interesting with Tuesday’s news out of the Bay Area.
