ELWAY THE TIEBREAKER ON QB DRAFT QUESTION
Broncos’ good fortune at QB may surface in their still-mysterious No. 5 pick
John Elway acknowledged last week that Broncos’ executives did not yet have a consensus on how to “stack” the quarterback prospects available in this week’s NFL draft. The Broncos’ general manager also conceded that such consensus does not really matter.
If the Broncos choose a quarterback with the No. 5 overall pick — or at any point during the weekend’s seven rounds — it will be up to the organization’s Hall of Fame signal-caller, who has an opportunity to make up for previous draft misfires at that position.
“That’s my job, right?” a grinning Elway said at a pre-draft news conference. “I gotta break the ties. Ultimately, it’s gonna be (my decision).”
There’s a reason Denver was thrust into the market to sign free agent Case Keenum — an undrafted quarterback out of Houston in 2012, by the way — following a forgettable 5-11 season.
Elway chose Brock Osweiler in the 2012 second round with the hope he’d be Peyton Manning’s successor, but that plan fizzled out.
Paxton Lynch, a first-round selection in 2016, became the next option, but he’s become the team’s backup after two years of injuries and poor play.
Trevor Siemian overachieved as a seventh-rounder-turned-starter before getting traded to Minnesota last month, while Chad Kelly was a final-round pick last year and is
currently third string.
That leaves the Broncos with an intriguing crop of young quarterbacks to consider in the draft. There are four projected first-rounders, though experts say there’s no clear pecking order because each prospect has a mixture of potential and flaws.
USC’s Sam Darnold is California cool while dazzling with his ability to make plays when the pocket breaks down, but turned the ball over 37 times in 26 career college games.
UCLA’s Josh Rosen is a master technician, but sustained multiple injuries and recently had his passion for football questioned by former coach Jim Mora.
Wyoming’s Josh Allen boasts prototypical size at 6-foot-5, 240 pounds, but sputtered against non-Power 5 collegiate competition.
Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield is one of the most prolific players in college football history — a 69.8 completion percentage, 12,292 yards, 119 touchdowns and 21 interceptions during his three seasons at Oklahoma — but stands just 6-foot-1 and freely displays a brash persona that some find off-putting.
“To put it in perspective, the two easiest quarterback evaluations I’ve had in the last eight or 10 years are Andrew Luck and Carson Wentz,” NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said in a conference call with reporters, “and that’s because everything checked off both on the film and all the intangibles. Those two guys walked and talked like Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Russell Wilson, et cetera.
“I don’t see anybody in this class that I get the same gut feel for as those two. Darnold is my No. 1 guy, because I think he can beat you from both inside the pocket and outside the pocket. But after him, I feel like you can kind of pick apart different characteristics of each player.”
Still, multiple teams near the top of this year’s draft need a boost at the most important position in sports, and at least two of those quarterbacks are expected to be off the board when Denver picks at No. 5. Cleveland holds the first and fourth overall picks, while the Giants and Jets select second and third, respectively.
Elway said he is also open to trading up to snag the player (likely a quarterback) he wants, or down to acquire additional picks. The Broncos could also use their first-round selection to fill another need such as cornerback, running back, offensive lineman or edge rusher, before taking a quarterback later in the draft. After the “big 4,” the best available quarterbacks are 2016 Heisman winner Lamar Jackson of Louisville, whom Mayock called “the most exciting athlete in the draft,” and Oklahoma State’s Mason Rudolph, who possesses a strong blend of size, smarts and touch on his deep throws.
Elway’s philosophy on evaluating quarterbacks has evolved during his tenure as Denver’s general manager because of his time with Manning, a future Hall of Famer who maintained his infamous preparation and cerebral view of the game that allowed him to keep winning even as his arm strength dwindled. Elway said he’s not overly concerned about the perceived character knocks on Mayfield and Rosen, stressing “I draw my own conclusions” based on personal interactions at the Senior Bowl, combine, pro days and visits over the past four months.
But Elway maintains the top skill he’s looking for in a quarterback is the ability to “win it from the pocket.”
“You can win games, but you can’t win championships unless you have the ability to win it from the pocket,” he said. “Then, if you can get out and move around and create and do those types of things, then that’s an added bonus.”
Elway reiterated last week that Keenum is Denver’s starting quarterback this season. That gives any draftee the chance to learn and develop, rather than getting thrown right into the NFL gauntlet.
But the Broncos’ quarterback pick — whenever it comes, whoever it is — will be heavily scrutinized the moment his name is called. And that decision ultimately falls on Elway.
Gina Mizell: gmizell@denverpost.com or @ginamizell