Broncos: Peter King suggests Broncos take QB Aidan O'Connell in latest mock
The Denver Broncos have their work cut out for them. Sean Payton and George Paton will need to expertly navigate this upcoming draft. With limited selections available due to the Russell Wilson trade, each pick holds more weight than usual. Payton and Paton have gone above and beyond this offseason to bolster the team around […]
The Denver Broncos have their work cut out for them. Sean Payton and George Paton will need to expertly navigate this upcoming draft. With limited selections available due to the Russell Wilson trade, each pick holds more weight than usual.
Payton and Paton have gone above and beyond this offseason to bolster the team around Wilson. The biggest impact, thus far, are the signings of some offensive linemen to protect their veteran quarterback.
But, even though the higher-ups are making moves to help Wilson succeed, there's a recent update that won't excite him as much.
NBC Sports' Peter King highlighted that the Broncos might be in the market for a quarterback by the time they make their first selection in the 2023 NFL Draft at pick No. 67. While Denver has spent a king's ransom to get Wilson and then additional resources to bring in Jarrett Stidham this offseason, the decision would surely raise eyebrows when it comes to the long-term outlook surrounding the QB position.
The Broncos pick 67 and 68 to start. I don’t expect them to trade a receiver, and I do expect them, on day three, to sniff around Purdue QB Aidan O’Connell. – Peter King, NBC Sports
King's reasoning could be that O'Connell is a valuable young asset who could learn from two veterans. Or, King may think the team is zeroing in on O'Connell simply because Wilson just wasn't good last season. In fact, Payton has even mentioned in recent weeks that Stidham is impressive, subtly indicating he could win the job from Wilson eventually.
Speaking directly on O'Connell's intangibles and what he may bring to an NFL team, The Athletic's Dane Brugler, who is one of the top draft analysts in the country, dissected the tape and had an average summarization of his skillset.
Overall, O'Connell isn't a quick-twitch mover or thrower and is guilty of trying to get away with throws he knows he shouldn't make, but he is strong-minded, accurate, and touches the ball up at every level of the field. He has the skills and intangibles of a capable backup in the NFL. – Dane Brugler, The Athletic
Broncos fans surely would be divided if the team invested some of their limited draft capital in a quarterback when the team already has, hopefully, two capable signal-callers already on the roster.
Stranger things have happened in the NFL draft.
