2019 NFL Draft: Peter King mocks Devin Bush and Drew Lock to the Broncos

NBC Sport’s Peter King released his one and only mock draft this morning and has an interesting scenario playing out for the Broncos. He has them selecting Michigan linebacker Devin Bush with their 10th overall selection AND trading back into the first-round for quarterback, Drew Lock.

Here is what King had to say about his selection of inside linebacker Devin Bush to the Denver Broncos with their 10th overall selection.

There’s not a perfect player on the board for Vic Fangio’s defense, but so many teams need a rangy sideline-to-sideline linebacker (Pittsburgh would love for him to drop to 20, but I don’t see it), and many think Bush would be a great compliment to edge-rushers Von Miller and Bradley Chubb. Four or five teams between 10 and 20 would have serious interest in Bush if he falls past 10.

We all know that Fangio wants a rangy three-down linebacker like Devin Bush, so this pick makes perfect sense. He’s a tad under-sized, but fits the mold of a new-age linebacker who excels in space and in coverage. This would be a solid selection for the Broncos and one that may very well happen come Thursday night.

One thing to note here is that the Pittsburgh Steelers do really like Bush and could explore trading up for him. If the package is right, would you bypass Bush to get some extra picks in 2019 and likely a 2020 first-rounder? It would be tempting for me.

Now, the Broncos picks didn’t end there. The oft-rumored quarterback of choice for the Broncos, Missouri’s Drew Lock slide all the way down to pick 31 in King’s mock draft. He has the Broncos trading up with the Los Angeles Rams to get Lock there and secure a fifth-year option on him, much like the Ravens did last year with Lamar Jackson.

Here are King’s thoughts on the Broncos trading up with the Rams for quarterback, Drew Lock.

PROJECTED TRADE: Denver sends the 41st pick and a 2020 second-rounder to the Los Angeles Rams for this choice.

Feel bad about predicting this. Sometimes in mock drafts, you want to get a player in the first round because you think he’s going to be a first-round pick, and you wedge him in and make the logic fit after that. I do not think the Rams want to pick at 31, and feel they can use a trade-down to get a two or three back after dealing fourth and second-round picks to Kansas City in 2018 for cornerback Marcus Peters. Denver likes Lock, and might be able to snag him as a two-year learner behind Joe Flacco while retaining the ability to use the 71st pick this year on a potential starter at a need position, like Texas A&M tight end Jace Sternberger. A move like this wouldn’t surprise me, but I also think the way Denver GM John Elway’s talking, he could punt on a young quarterback until the richer QB draft of 2020.

If Lock were to slide this far back in the first-round, it would make sense for the Broncos to make this move if they truly do believe that Lock can be their quarterback of the future. However, King does note that he also thinks that Elway could bypass an early round signal caller this year and look again in 2020. Both scenarios that appear to be in play as we head into the week of the 2019 NFL Draft.

So Mile High Report, I ask you this. Would you be happy if the Broncos came away with inside linebacker Devin Bush at 10th overall and traded back into the first-round for quarterback Drew Lock?