6 QBs Broncos Could Target in Draft to Replace Russell Wilson

The Denver Broncos may turn to the NFL draft for their next starting quarterback.

In a move that seemingly came out of nowhere, the Denver Broncos have benched Russell Wilson less than two seasons after trading for him and a little over a year since giving him a massive extension. There are multiple reasons for the move, from the stagnant offense to the injury guarantees in Wilson's contract. 

Benching Wilson preserves the Broncos from possibly having to pay him $37 million in injury guarantees (if he got hurt), making it easier for the team to part ways with the quarterback in the offseason. 

Due to his contract, the Broncos will have to cut Wilson prior to the fifth day of the new league year, which starts on March 13. Also, due to the fact that cutting him will trigger an $85 million dead-cap hit, the Broncos will be forced to use a post-June-1 cut to spread that money over the 2024 and 2025 league years.  

While parting ways with Wilson isn't 100% set in stone, it's the likely outcome. Wilson certainly expects it. 

The Broncos are poised to be looking for a new quarterback in 2024. The team's best path would be through the NFL draft because of the benefits of how a rookie contract would help offset the dead money the team will have to absorb on Wilson. 

With a first-round pick, the Broncos get the best chances of hitting on the position while giving them five years of cost control. That would give the Broncos two years to offset the dead cap and rebuild the team, plus two more cheap years to capitalize and a fifth-year option before potentially having to pay that quarterback. 

The earlier a quarterback is drafted, the higher the hit rate, which means the Broncos should be playing for draft position over their final two games. It would suck to lose these final two games, but it could be better for the long term. The short-sighted view of another likely lost season shouldn't overrule the team's future outlook beyond 2023. 

It's worth noting the Broncos have a 5% chance of making the playoffs when they benched Wilson, but they also currently hold the 14th overall pick in the draft. If the Broncos lose out, they could find themselves with a top-10 pick, and if things go perfectly, they could end up with the No. 6 overall pick, which would put them in position for one of the top three quarterbacks in the 2024 class, even if they would need to trade up to secure it. 

Quarterback is the most important position in all of sports; you have to keep swinging until you get it right. So, with the Wilson era in the books, let's take a look at the top six quarterbacks getting first-round consideration at the moment.   

Caleb Williams | USC

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Williams is viewed as the top quarterback in the class by most and widely viewed as the favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick. The Chicago Bears are currently sitting with the No. 1 pick, but they could decide to stick with Justin Fields, take a receiver or offensive tackle, or even look to trade the pick.

Williams is a great prospect, but he isn't flawless. He does a great job of creating, moving around, and keeping his eyes downfield. 

When you watch him, you see throws reminiscent of Patrick Mahomes. However, Williams will have to develop his reads, as well as working with timing and rhythm from the pocket to help his consistency. 

Williams struggled this past against the tougher defenses he faced, but he did a lot to carry a USC team that had a horrid defense and plenty of other issues on offense. 

Drake Maye | North Carolina

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While most have Williams as the top guy, Maye takes the cake for some. Their styles are opposite of each other, which makes the whole conversation interesting. 

Maye is viewed as a top-five pick, and there's been a lot connecting him to the New England Patriots, who currently sit with the No. 4 overall pick, and the Broncos can't get ahead of them without a trade.

Maye is praised for his football IQ, and he works well from the pocket. He has the arm to attack every level of the field and works through his reads quickly. 

When plays start to break down, Maye's struggles begin to emerge. There are also issues with his lower body and footwork; there also can be a hitch with his decision-making, allowing throwing windows to close. 

Jayden Daniels | LSU

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There hasn't been a bigger riser in the draft this year than Daniels. Entering the season, he was viewed as a Day 3 pick, but he showed constant steps of development in his great season at LSU, boosting him as a potential top-10 pick, with multiple teams already being heavily linked to him. Denver could be one of those teams if it loses out.

Daniels is one of the best dual threats in the class and has shown development in attacking every level of the field. However, he has questionable decision-making moments, his ball placement isn't ideal, and neither is his velocity.

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Michael Penix | Washington

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There's a lot of like about Penix, but there are some serious concerns. He has suffered two torn ACLs and two shoulder surgeries over four years. 

Penix also has greatly benefited from the talent around him and can struggle to create. However, he can do well with timing and rhythm throws, even with an arm that isn't ideal for the NFL. 

J.J. McCarthy | Michigan

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McCarthy is a polarizing prospect. There's a rawness to his game, especially in a standard dropback offense. 

However, the raw traits and athleticism are there to work with, along with a good enough arm for the NFL. 

Bo Nix | Oregon

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Nix has done great things at Oregon, but many will return to his struggles at Auburn. There's far more talent at Oregon than at Auburn, so did he carry Oregon, or was it more of a right guy for the job kind of situation? 

Nix doesn't have the arm to attack the intermediate and deep part of the field consistently enough, especially for the NFL, but no quarterback works the short game better than him. 

Broncos QB Big Board

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When evaluating quarterbacks, you always have to factor in the coach and offense. Not all of these quarterbacks are ideal fits for what Broncos head coach Sean Payton likes to do. 

For the Broncos, Maye could be ranked higher than Williams because he's a better fit for Payton. That doesn't mean Willians wouldn't work out. 

Here's my best guess at the Broncos' QB pecking order, with months left in the draft process:

1. Drake Maye | North Carolina
2. Caleb Williams | USC
3. Jayden Daniels | LSU
4. Bo Nix | Oregon
5. Michael Penix | Washington
6. J.J. McCarthy | Michigan

There are still many variables in play, but if the Broncos are moving on from Wilson, Payton will want a guy who can run his offense. Some of these options are simply better fits for that. 

Time will tell, and there's a chance the Broncos won't even move on from Wilson, slim as it may seem. 

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