Denver Broncos general manager John Elway is open to trading the No. 5 overall pick.
Just to clarify: John Elway said the Broncos are open to EVERYTHING. They make keep the No. 5 pick, they may move. They may try to get a QB. They may not.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) April 19, 2018
He said they'll go through all the scenarios starting next week.
After signing Case Keenum to a two-year deal in free agency, the Broncos are not necessarily desperate to get a quarterback in this upcoming draft. But that hasn’t stopped multiple draft analysts from projecting Denver to take a quarterback at No. 5 overall.
NFL Network’s Bucky Brooks and Daniel Jeremiah both have the Broncos selecting a quarterback in the first-round of their respective mock drafts.
It makes plenty of sense. The Broncos have fallen apart since Peyton Manning’s retirement. Denver is in need of stability at the quarterback position, and it’s unknown if Keenum can provide that.
Can Elway afford to pass on a future franchise quarterback? He already whiffed on first-round pick Paxton Lynch in 2016. Putting all his eggs in the Keenum basket may not be the brightest idea.
The former Vikings, Rams, and Texans quarterback has shown he can help lead a team to the postseason, but there’s a reason Minnesota opted to go after Kirk Cousins over the 30-year-old undrafted quarterback.
The Broncos are also in the market for a running back after releasing C.J. Anderson. Much like the Buccaneers, it may be a reach for Denver to trade up for a running back. But if they want Barkley, they might need to leapfrog the Cleveland Browns at No. 4 overall.
The Broncos need for a quarterback and running back makes them the third best trade partner for Big Blue. A potential trade could involve the No. 2 overall pick for Denver’s first-round pick (No. 5), their first third-round pick (71) this year, and a second-round pick in 2019.
According to the Draft Trade Value Chart, the Broncos would be getting the better end of this deal. But with either Quenton Nelson or Bradley Chubb likely still on the board at No. 5 overall and two new additional draft picks, it’s not as though Big Blue would be a loser in this trade scenario.