Denver Broncos Mock Draft Roundup 4.0

With the top-four QBs off the board, the Broncos turn to the defensive side of the ball. Having Terrion Arnold and Pat Surtain II as the starting outside corners will be a big luxury for Vance Joseph's defense.

It really will be interesting to see if it goes this way. Can the Broncos avoid a costly trade-up and still land a quarterback? Yes. But can Nix be the QB who can elevate Sean Payton's team? I'm less sure about that. But what other options are there at this point? I'd feel much better if Denver could move down and still get Nix.

With the Vikings trading up to no. 3 to grab Drake Maye, the Broncos' patience pays off and McCarthy falls into their laps. The former Michigan star is steely under pressure and athletic enough to make plays outside the pocket and outside of structure. He is comfortable ripping passes up the seam and has the skill set that Sean Payton can build his offense around.

Instead of reaching for a quarterback here, the Broncos add Mitchell, who should make a great running mate opposite Pro Bowl CB Pat Surtain II.

They don't get a lot out of the position, so taking Brock Bowers would make sense. They could also look to get help for their offensive line.

McCarthy is a tough, instinctive and accurate quarterback with above-average mobility and great play from the pocket. I'm not saying he's Drew Brees, but the style of play would fit very well with what Payton ran in New Orleans. McCarthy is relatively inexperienced with just 28 starts in college, but he left Michigan with a 27-1 record. He completed 72.1% of his passes and threw only four picks last season, and his third-down QBR of 86.7 was 11th-best in the nation. McCarthy would be a sure bet to beat out Jarrett Stidham and start Week 1 for Denver.

Obviously Denver is in transition at QB after releasing Russell Wilson. Nix's 77.4% completion rate led the nation in 2023, and he threw 45 TD passes to three interceptions. He has the accuracy and anticipation to succeed in Sean Payton's offense. The big concern would be the arm strength. His deep balls fluttered at times at the Senior Bowl, and that matches what I see on tape. It might limit Nix's ceiling, but it's also something Payton can work around and develop.

Drafting a first-round quarterback isn't Sean Payton's thing. Entering camp with only Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci probably isn't either. Taking Nix offers youthful hope even if the Oregon standout is a bit older (24) than the typical rookie. There's nothing normal with breaking the FBS record with a 77.4 completion percentage. The dropdown upped Denver's pick total to 11, so moving around for a wideout or defensive back remains plausible.