3 Franchise QB Options for Broncos After a Trade-Up

The Broncos need a quarterback and have been linked with trading up, and one of these three could be their target.

Nov 18, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams (13) throws / Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports

The worst-kept secret in the NFL is that the Denver Broncos want and need a new starting quarterback. They have been linked to multiple quarterbacks and moving up for one in the draft. Four quarterbacks are all projected to go in the top 10 and could even go in the top four, depending on how things fall. 

While they may not land one of these guys, as he is projected to be the first overall pick, they could land one of the others if they trade up. So, let’s dive into these quarterbacks who the Broncos could be looking to move up to land one of. 

Nov 18, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams (13) scrambles / Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports

Caleb Williams | USC

Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 214 pounds
Arm Length: 32 inches
Hands: 9-3/4 inches
Relative Athletic Score: N/A

Pros

Caleb Williams is an outstanding prospect with many similarities in his play style to Patrick Mahomes. He can work well out of structure and throw off any platform to make plays happen. The production from Williams has been great over his three college seasons, throwing 93 touchdowns to 14 interceptions. 

His throwing motion has good mechanics, and his release is quick and compact. His mechanical transitions are fast, especially off fake handoffs and RPOs. There is plenty of arm talent to hit every throw at the NFL level. 

Williams can be a threat with his legs, but he doesn’t look to run when things get problematic. Instead, he keeps his eyes downfield, looking for the play to materialize through the air. With his ability to throw on the run and reset his base, with his running ability, he is a threat when out of the pocket. 

His pocket sense is elite, and he has a sixth sense when feeling pressure in the pocket. He quickly finds his escape lanes and works his way through them, keeping his eyes downfield. The team around him at USC wasn’t the best, but he showed that he could carry a team and stay competitive against tough competition. 

Cons

There are consistency issues, as well as working on schedule. He has too many instances of missing the timing and rhythm throws and looking for the big play, leading to some extra pressure. Williams will also need to improve his processor to get through reads faster, especially at the NFL level. 

The inconsistencies around his game can be problematic. He can look to find the big play and pass on what the defense is giving him. This leaves yards on the field and can lead to points on the board. There are also issues with him choosing to throw off-platform from different angles instead of re-setting his base and using proper mechanics. 

Fit With Broncos

Williams can work in the Sean Payton offense, but he may not be the best fit. Payton wants a quarterback to throw with timing and rhythm, which is where Williams struggles. The hero-ball mentality may not sit well with Payton, who prefers to have things executed in structure instead of looking to make plays out of structure. 

Big Board Position: No. 2 overall.

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Nov 18, 2023; Clemson, South Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye (10) / Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports

Drake Maye | North Carolina

Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 223 pounds
Arm Length: 32-1/4 inches
Hands: 9-1/8 inches
Relative Athletic Score: N/A

Pros

Drake Maye has some solid experience, having spent two years as a starter, where he threw 61 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. He has the ideal size and frame that NFL teams desire, with the moldable traits. Maye checks all of the boxes on and off the field. 

His arm is naturally strong, and he can make all the throws at the NFL level. The ball flies through the air with a consistent spiral and plenty of velocity. He can challenge every level of the field and do it on- or off-platform. There is velocity to attack tight window throws, and Maye is calculated with the risks he takes. 

There is good awareness and sense in the pocket to maneuver and avoid pressure. He also is a good athlete who can threaten defenses with his legs when he gets out of the pocket. When he gets out of the pocket, he will look for the play downfield and try to find an open receiver before taking off and using his legs. 

As said, Maye checked all the boxes and showed his leadership on the field. He can also put a team on his back and carry them when needed. Plenty of tools are in the toolbox to work with and develop, and his processing speed is quick. 

Cons

While he has all the tools and traits to work with, some mechanical issues and lapses must be corrected and made consistent. The throwing motion is clean but lacks consistency, which leads to sailing throws. For the 2023 season, Maye also seemed pressed to make plays happen, which led to mistakes. 

While he didn’t throw a lot of interceptions, how those interceptions happened raises the concern. They were either a bad read or a poorly placed throw. That can translate to the NFL if those aren’t corrected. His placement is the biggest and most consistent flaw in his game, which stems from the previously mentioned mechanical inconsistencies and issues.  

Fit With Broncos

Drake Maye can work with timing and rhythm throws and would fit in well on the Payton offense. He can make all the needed throws and has the natural arm talent to challenge the defense vertically when Payton dials it up. The talent around him in Denver could help cover some of the issues while Payton and Davis Webb work to clean up the mechanical inconsistencies. 

Big Board Position: No. 3 overall.

Jan 8, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) passes the ball / Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

J.J. McCarthy | Michigan

Height: 6-foot-2.5
Weight: 219 pounds
Arm Length: 31-5/8 inches
Hands: 9 inches
Relative Athletic Score: N/A

Pros

McCarthy is another quarterback who checks all the boxes on and off the field. He has good experience working in an offense that translates well to the NFL level, as it is a Pro-Style scheme. With most college offenses spreading it out, being in that system does help ease his transition to the NFL. 

He has good movement skills and is a good athlete to work in and out of the pocket as well as on- or off-structure. The mechanics are well-coached and developed, which has become the norm for Michigan prospects. He does well in sorting through coverages and finding his throwing windows. 

When out of the pocket, McCarthy is one of the most efficient throwers with some of the cleanest mechanics. The ball comes from his hand smoothly with a good spiral to find the open man who can pick up yards after the catch when working on roll-outs. His ability to place layered throws over the linebackers and under the safeties is among the best to enter the NFL in recent years. 

There is more than enough to be a threat with his legs. He is tough in and out of the pocket and will take hits to get the throw to his target. The throwing mechanics are clean and consistent, and he can speed up his process. 

Cons

As good as he is out of the pocket, McCarthy struggles when working from the pocket. He plays a different game when working in and out of the pocket. He struggled with working through a full field of reads and seemed thrown off by figuring out different pressure packages. 

The ball placement, especially in the pocket, is off. He has a bad habit of sailing throws, putting them behind his receivers, and forcing them to bail him out. The overall timing when working from the pocket could be better. There are too many instances on tape where he would make a lousy decision or throw, and the Michigan offense would stick to running the ball, which happened multiple times in the NCAA Championship game. 

Fit With Broncos

McCarthy can work in the Payton offense, but the issues from the pocket muddy up the fit. The fit would be excellent if he were more consistent with his timing and placement from the pocket. It isn’t common to see a quarterback who is significantly better out of the pocket than in it, like we have with McCarthy. 

Big Board Position: No. 19 overall.

Better Fit for Broncos

The best fit of these three would be Drake Maye. Considering what Sean Payton wants to do on offense and what he needs from his quarterback, Maye fits that mold. He can work the timing and rhythm throws with the natural arm talent to challenge vertically. 

Williams and McCarthy can work in the offense, but they likely require a few changes to the offense, especially as rookies, to be effective consistently. There were comments from Payton that talked about what he wants in a quarterback, and those wouldn’t suggest Williams or McCarthy as the ideal fit for him. 

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