Broncos: 5 first-round targets after big free agency period
1. QBs Justin Fields and Trey Lance
The moves the Denver Broncos have made in the 2021 offseason to really fortify their defense and put the best possible team in place lead me to believe there is a decent chance this team could move up in the 2021 NFL Draft for a quarterback.
They would certainly, as George Paton has already indicated, be open to taking one if available with the 9th overall pick.
The two most likely guys to be available based on most projections right now are Ohio State’s Justin Fields and North Dakota State’s Trey Lance.
Both prospects have room for growth in their games, but both are playmakers with big arms, some jaw-dropping throws on tape, and an obvious love for the game. In the Broncos’ context, though, which guy makes more sense?
To me, it’s Justin Fields.
Trey Lance played one showcase game in 2020 and while he has tremendous physical talent and is known for being a hard worker off the field, he has one season of FCS experience under his belt. In six of his 17 games for North Dakota State, Lance had a completion percentage of 56.5 or less.
That is worth digging into despite the fact that he also managed to have 42 total touchdowns and 0 interceptions during his lone season as the starter in 2019, leading the Bison to a National Championship.
It’s not always accuracy issues that lead to low completion percentage. Receivers drop passes and the Broncos know as well as any team how that can contribute to your quarterback’s statistical bottom line.
Lance’s raw talent is undeniable. His polish is not quite there, but as a runner, he is outstanding. He will unquestionably be able to have success in that way early on in the NFL. Can you win with that formula in Denver?
The Broncos seem more built to air it out with their crew of receivers, and Lance has 318 college throws to look at compared to Fields’ 618.
Fields’ larger sample size aside, he looks better as a passer on tape right now than does Lance. With that being said, evaluators have expressed concern over his present-day ability to go process beyond his first read.
Are there examples on tape of him doing just that? Yes. Does the Ohio State offense require him to do it often? Not necessarily.
Although some consider this a weakness of his, good evaluators would consider it a work in progress. You have to evaluate what you think these guys can become rather than what they’ve proven.
Fields seems like the type of player who will put the work in to be able to speed up his processing on the field, but there is no doubt about the fact that he’s got work to do there.
These are both extremely talented players and they would be going into a situation in Denver where the team around them is built for success. With Drew Lock maybe or maybe not being the guy going forward, the Broncos have to consider all options in round one including the top QBs that could fall to their pick, or even in range.