Rumor: Broncos first-round options are Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield, Bradley Chubb, or trade down

According to Mile High Sports radio’s Eric Goodman, the Broncos have narrowed down their first-round options to quarterbacks Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield, and defensive end Bradley Chubb. If neither of the three is there, they would strongly look into trading down.

Nothing here is breaking news, but more of what we have been hearing for the past few weeks. The Broncos have narrowed down their quarterback choices to USC’s Sam Darnold who they held a private workout with and with Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield. If either of them is there at the 5th overall pick, the Broncos will have their new quarterback of the future. I’d imagine Darnold would be ahead of Mayfield on their board

The same goes for North Carolina’s State pass rusher Bradley Chubb. General Manager John Elway values pass rushers highly and would love to take the top defensive/pass rushing prospect in the draft if he could. I’d imagine Chubb would be behind Darnold and Mayfield in the pecking order, but he obviously is their top-rated non-quarterback in their draft.

Here is the problem, neither of the three is expected to be available at the 5th overall prospect. Darnold could be the top overall pick, Mayfield to the Jets has been rumored for weeks, and Chubb would not make it past Cleveland at the 4th overall pick. This leaves the Broncos in prime trade back territory.

Wyoming’s Josh Allen and UCLA’s Josh Rosen could be available at 5 with a slew of teams behind them itching to move up for a quarterback. Those teams include the Buffalo Bills, the Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins, and potentially the New England Patriots.

According to 9NEWS Denver’s Mike Klis, three of those four teams have already called the Broncos about potentially trading up with them.

The Miami Dolphins, who have the No. 11 pick, have called. The Buffalo Bills, who have the No. 12 selection, have checked in. The Arizona Cardinals, who have the No. 15 pick, have phoned. All three teams need a quarterback and they know the Broncos, with their No. 5 draft selection, may well be in a position to have the last of the Big 4 quarterbacks available.

I would narrow down this list to the Buffalo Bills who currently have A.J. McCarron as their starting quarterback and the Arizona Cardinals who currently have oft-injured Sam Bradford as their starting quarterback. Neither McCarron or Bradford are the long-term(or potentially short-term answer) so these two teams will be desperate to get their quarterback if they can.

The Bills have a bunch of draft capital to offer the Broncos(two 1’s, two 2’s, and two 3’s) and are my clubhouse leaders in any potential trade up scenario. Especially if Wyoming’s Josh Allen who is available who the Bills reportedly love. The Cardinals do not have a ton of 2018 draft capital, however, they can offer a 2019 first-round pick that could very easily be a top-three pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. So either way, the Broncos can get a bunch in return from either team if they decide to go that route.

So to finish things up, it is either quarterback Sam Darnold, quarterback Baker Mayfield, defensive end Bradley Chubb, or getting a haul in a potential trade back.