2021 NFL Draft grades: Denver Broncos punt on quarterbacks

The Denver Broncos may have taken the best defensive player in the entire 2021 NFL Draft, but will this particular class of prospects be known more for who rookie general manager George Paton passed on?

Specifically, Paton’s decision to pass on both Justin Fields and Mac Jones with the 9th overall pick could be a decision that haunts him, but Paton is obviously confident in his alternative options at the position.

The Denver Broncos have been the subject of plenty of Aaron Rodgers trade rumors, and they’ve also been connected to other veterans like Matthew Stafford and Deshaun Watson throughout the 2021 offseason.

Whether Paton is able to make a trade for a veteran star at the quarterback position remains to be seen. On the eve of the 2021 NFL Draft, he traded for Carolina Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater who will come into camp and compete with incumbent starter Drew Lock.

Paton entered the 2021 NFL Draft with nine selections and left with 10 picks, all told. How did he invest those picks and what kind of value did each player present?

Let’s take a look through each pick made by the Denver Broncos and hand out some instant-reaction grades.