Broncos meet with LSU’S Daniels after Pro Day workout
The Broncos’ 2024 quarterback tour continues.
Some of Denver’s contingent left the NFL’S spring meetings in Orlando, Fla., on Tuesday afternoon and headed to Baton Rouge, La., for LSU’S pro day. That’s where quarterback Jayden Daniels worked out along with a pair of likely first-round wide receivers in Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr.
Daniels’ agent, Ron Butler, confirmed to The Post on Wednesday morning that Denver had a meeting slated with Daniels after the pro day action wrapped up.
Other teams slated to meet with Daniels on Wednesday, according to NFL Network, included Washington, New England, the New York Giants, Minnesota and Las Vegas.
Butler said Daniels wouldn’t be doing any additional throwing or going to dinner with a team on Wednesday, but that depending on how the dust settled, the quarterback would begin setting up visits and perhaps private workouts in the coming days.
The Broncos had a formal interview with Daniels at the NFL combine about a month ago and hold the No. 12 pick in April’s draft. Washington and New England hold the second and third picks, the Giants are No. 6, Minnesota has No. 11 and No. 23, and the Raiders are No. 13.
Daniels is widely considered one of the three best quarterbacks in the class and a likely bet to come off the board in the first 2-5 picks on April 25.
Sean Payton in Orlando on Monday morning called the prospect of Denver trading up in the draft “realistic,” but it would be expensive to get into a range where Daniels becomes a real possibility.
One interesting element between the Broncos and
Daniels: They’ve got several mutual connections. Defensive line coach Jamar Cain and vice president of player health and performance Beau Lowery were both on LSU’S staff in 2022 when Daniels arrived at the school from Arizona State. Cain also was on the Arizona State staff that originally recruited Daniels out of high school in 2019.
Payton was no longer the New Orleans coach by the time Daniels got to LSU, but the quarterback heard all about him anyway.
“Sean Payton, what he did in New Orleans, I was down the road, so, you know, a lot of people still talk about those days,” Daniels said at the combine. “To be able to see the offensive mind that he is, the guru, and be able to sit in there and just talk football with everybody (was positive).”
Daniels completed 72.2% of his passes for 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns and four interceptions in 2023 and also rushed for 1,134 yards and 10 more touchdowns en route to winning the Heisman Trophy.
Payton and the Broncos have been making the rounds on the 2024 quarterback draft class, even if they haven’t been front and center at the workouts beyond their scouting staff.
For example, he said Monday that the Broncos put Michigan quarterback J.J. Mccarthy through a workout and had a 4-5 hour meeting with him the day after Michigan’s pro day last week.
Next up: North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye goes through his pro day Thursday, as does Michael Penix Jr. at Washington.
Then the Broncos’ next round of draft meetings with their full scouting department begins Monday back in Denver.
What they learn this week will undoubtedly play a role in those conversations.