NFL mock draft, 3 rounds: QBs, trades, surprises in latest predictions
2021 NFL mock draft: 9th pick
QB. 9. player. 45. Ohio State. Justin Fields. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
Broncos GM/HC: George Paton/Vic Fangio
Let’s do some quick math.
New Denver Broncos general manager George Paton said at his pre-draft press conference that he thinks we might see five quarterbacks go within the top-10 picks.
Three are guaranteed to go in the top three picks.
Beyond that, we know that the Dallas Cowboys (10th), Cincinnati Bengals (5th), and Miami Dolphins (6th) are not taking quarterbacks with their selections.
That leaves the Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions, Carolina Panthers, and Denver Broncos as teams who could use their picks on a quarterback or trade them to someone who will if Paton’s prediction is to come to fruition.
To finish up this math lesson, that seems to be at least a 50 percent shot (two quarterbacks, four teams) that Paton will be one of those teams to draft one of those five quarterbacks should the right guy present himself at pick number nine.
Paton has reiterated that the Broncos do like Drew Lock. They see Lock’s potential and they’re willing to not take a quarterback in this class if the guy they like is not there.
At pick 9, how could you not like Justin Fields? Fields isn’t a perfect quarterback prospect but as Paton himself stated, he’s a high-ceiling player. He was plays the most important position on the field and what player makes more sense here?
Rashawn Slater, maybe?
The Denver Broncos could easily bring Fields in and have him compete with Lock for the starting job as a rookie. There is no pressure for Paton to play him right away as there was for the coaching staff to play Drew Lock.
The Broncos sent key representatives to both of Justin Fields’ pro day throwing sessions (Paton and offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur among them) so they are obviously intrigued at the very least, seriously interested at most.
You could argue here that Fields is easily the steal of the draft at pick number nine after showing some number one pick type stuff at times in the 2019 and 2020 seasons.