Baker Mayfield continues to be connected to the Broncos

Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield has been widely connected to the Denver Broncos during this draft process, and it has continued. Jon Ledyard of NDT Scouting has the Broncos top targeting being quarterback, Baker Mayfield

Here is what Ledyard had to say in his piece where he breaks down where the top quarterback prospects figure to land in the 2018 NFL Draft.

1.5 Denver Broncos

Primary Needs: QB, RB, LG, DL

Secondary Needs: CB, TE, LB

Likely Available: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

Top target: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

Analysis: I think the Broncos will be thrilled to land Mayfield if he falls to them, but I’m not sure they’ll make a move to get no. 4 and lock him in. He’d be a great fit in Denver, but if the Bills jump ahead of the Broncos and the Giants take a quarterback, John Elway will happily take the best player in the draft in Nelson to complete Denver’s offensive line rebuild.

Prediction: Mayfield

Ledyard has the Broncos top target and predicted selection to be quarterback Baker Mayfield. He also has Mayfield as the most likely available quarterback for them to target. So in other words, Mayfield appears to be the Broncos most likely target if they do indeed go, quarterback. He goes on to say that the Broncos would be thrilled to draft Mayfield and that he would be an ideal fit into Bill Musgraves offensive scheme.

Now, Ledyard does state that if they miss out on the top four quarterbacks that he believes that Broncos General Manager John Elway would gladly take Notre Dame’s Quenton Nelson to complete their offensive line rebuild. However, he implies that the Broncos first choice would be to draft a quarterback, specifically Baker Mayfield.

SB Nation’s Dan Kadar of Mocking The Draft also believes Mayfield will land in Denver. He has the Broncos selecting Mayfield with the 5th overall pick in his latest mock draft.

5. Denver Broncos: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

AS: Three of the top four quarterbacks are off the board, so if the Broncos want to add talent at the position they better do it now before the avalanche leaves nothing left. Case Keenum might be the solution, but his contract suggests he’s more of a Band-Aid who’s getting an audition to prove he’s something more. Adding Mayfield gives a more long-term answer who can take over when he’s ready.

I agree with this thought on Keenum being nothing more than a band-aid. Could he be the short-term answer? Maybe, but he is not the longterm option at the position. GM John Elway has stated that he wants this position settled for the longterm and Keenum who is signed only to a two-year deal likely isn’t the longterm answer. Bypassing on a quarterback leaves the Broncos in a potentially bad spot in a year or two.

If Keenum gets the Broncos into the playoffs or into contention, they will have a high teens to early 20’s pick in the draft. Too far back to get any of the quarterbacks without finding a willing trade partner. Basically the same scenario the Arizona Cardinals are in. Would leave them with Keenum in the final year of his deal and no real future plan behind him(Lynch is a bust and Kelly, for now, is a big question mark). Drafting a quarterback like Mayfield avoids that potentially unfortunate situation for the Broncos.

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