Mel Kiper’s latest mock has Broncos making a trade with Patriots

After several weeks of talking about the Denver Broncos going all in on a quarterback to replace Drew Lock, we are finally going to talk about the Broncos committing to Drew Lock.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper decided to throw this type of curveball in this week’s mock draft. New General Manager George Paton in this scenario looks to Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots to trade back with in the first round.

One more trade, again for a quarterback. And that makes five QBs in the top nine picks. To move up six spots, we can keep the comp of the Devin Bush trade. The Patriots would have to send the Broncos at least the No. 15 pick, a second-round pick and a 2022 pick. And I wouldn’t be shocked if it took the Pats’ 2022 first-rounder to get the deal over the finish line. New England also is expected to add premium compensatory picks for this class, so it could have more ammo to use.

Bill Belichick is known more for trading down in drafts, but the Patriots traded up a couple of times on Day 2 last year to get guys they wanted in Josh Uche and Devin Asiasi. Don’t rule out a big move if Belichick & Co. want to get their quarterback of the future.

9. New England Patriots (via mock trade with DEN)

Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State

Kiper had three trades in the Top 10, which were all for quarterbacks. The Atlanta Falcons moved up to draft Zach Wilson with the second pick, the San Francisco 49ers moved up to grab Justin Fields with the seventh pick, and then here with the Patriots getting Trey Lance with the ninth pick. He also had Mac Jones going to the Carolina Panthers with the eighth pick.

If the plan is to stockpile picks, which the Minnesota Vikings were very good at when Paton worked there, then this is the perfect chance for Denver to pick up an extra first rounder in 2022.

The best part of his mock is who fell into the Broncos lap at 15 in his scenario.

15. Denver Broncos (via mock trade with NE)

Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech

Like I told my pal Jeff Legwold last week, cornerback is the position I’d target for Denver. And I’d even feel comfortable taking Farley at No. 9 if the Broncos don’t trade back, so this is good value. He showed in 2019 that he can be an elite, lockdown corner, though I would like to have seen one more year of film (he opted out of the 2020 season). He’s still raw. The Broncos could part ways with both safety Justin Simmons (free agency) and edge rusher Von Miller (cap casualty) this offseason, so they need to boost their talent on defense under Vic Fangio.

That’s right. They still ended up snagging the cornerback most analysts feel is the perfect type of Vic Fangio cornerback.

I know I’ve been pounding the Deshaun Watson reports this offseason, because frankly you just don’t find elite quarterbacks easily in the NFL, but if this scenario played out and Denver chose to stick with Lock through 2021 I’d be perfect okay with it.

They would get a starter-caliber cornerback and ultimately head into 2022 with some serious firepower in the first round. They would also pick up another second round pick this year. All in all, this would be an ideal trade back scenario.

What do you think Broncos Country?