{"id":63163,"date":"2019-04-10T06:12:05","date_gmt":"2019-04-10T10:12:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonnfl.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=63163"},"modified":"2019-04-10T06:12:05","modified_gmt":"2019-04-10T10:12:05","slug":"denver-broncos-may-not-select-quarterback-tenth-pick-2019-nfl-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2019\/04\/10\/denver-broncos-may-not-select-quarterback-tenth-pick-2019-nfl-draft\/","title":{"rendered":"Denver Broncos May Not Select Quarterback With Tenth Pick"},"content":{"rendered":"

Suffice it to say the Denver Broncos<\/a> haven\u2019t been able to find a franchise quarterback since Peyton Manning<\/b><\/a>. Even then, he was no longer in his prime and defense carried a large load during his final season. While general manager John Elway<\/a><\/strong> is trying his best to find one, he\u00a0hasn\u2019t changed his outlook on what it takes to\u00a0be a star quarterback. This outdated philosophy has hindered the Broncos for far too long. Now, according to some analysts, there are reasons to believe that the Broncos won\u2019t even draft a quarterback with their tenth pick.<\/p>\n

Why The Denver Broncos May Not Select\u00a0A Quarterback With First Round Pick in 2019 NFL Draft<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In his time in the front office, Elway has signed, traded for or drafted 15 quarterbacks. Outside of Manning, none have amounted to much. With another tenth pick in the impending draft, there have been significant mentions of Missouri\u2019s Drew Lock<\/b><\/a>. However, in what may seem controversial at first glance, some analysts believe the Broncos will not select a quarterback.<\/p>\n

They Already Have Joe Flacco<\/a><\/h3>\n

… Which to most, isn\u2019t that comforting<\/a> a thought. Sayre Bedinger of Predominantly Orange pointed out that Joe Flacco<\/a><\/strong> has been a strong performer in playoffs strong performer in the playoffs<\/a>, has had more consistent good streaks than past Broncos quarterbacks and overall has better traits.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, as Predominantly Orange\u2019s Andrew Wade says, the combination of Courtland Sutton<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s hands and Emmanuel Sanders<\/a><\/strong>\u2019 speed, Flacco might actually be successful.<\/p>\n

Elway defended his decision by reminding us that Flacco is \u201ccoming into the prime of his career\u201d. When you think of quarterbacks like Tom Brady<\/a><\/strong> who is still thriving at 40, it makes it easier to believe that Flacco may still have some steam left in him. How much steam, we just don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n

Elway Picks The Best Player Available<\/h3>\n

Elway has always been clear on his preferences – filling the team\u2019s biggest needs in free agency and drafting the best player available when the time comes.<\/p>\n

He proved last season that he won\u2019t pick a quarterback just because everyone thinks it\u2019s what he should do. In 2018, he had done a lot of research on Josh Rosen<\/a><\/strong> and Josh Allen<\/a><\/strong>. And when those two were still available, he chose to grab the best player on the board with outside linebacker Bradley Chubb<\/a><\/strong> instead.<\/p>\n

The 2019 Quarterback Class Isn\u2019t That Strong<\/h3>\n

We saw five first-round quarterbacks in 2018. Two of them stunned fans, and will undoubtedly have long-running success. The caliber of talent this season can\u2019t really compare to that of last season. It\u2019s widely believed amongst those in the know that no quarterback in this class will rank ahead of the top four of the 2018 class.<\/p>\n

The majority of the first-round talent on the defensive side of the ball. When the Broncos are on the clock at pick 10, they\u2019re likely to select a defensive end or linebacker with a much higher grade than any quarterback that is still available.<\/p>\n

The Broncos Are Still A Defense-Heavy Team<\/h3>\n

One of the few things Elway did right was build a dominant defense post Super Bowl 48. The offense was historically good in 2013, but the\u00a0defense let them down. Elway swore defense would never be weak again. In the five years after the Super Bowl, Denver\u2019s defensive ranking was 3, 1, 3, 4 and 22.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s clear Elway is a man on a mission. He dispensed of Vance Joseph<\/a><\/strong> and hired Vic Fangio, the man who constructed a top-notch Chicago Bears defensive unit (1st<\/sup> in points, 3rd<\/sup> in yards). He spent big money on cornerbacks Bryce Callahan<\/a><\/strong> and Kareem Jackson<\/a><\/strong> in an effort to make Broncos defense great again.<\/p>\n

The defensive draft class is overflowing with talent. Some feel that a middle linebacker in the form of Devin White<\/strong> or Devin Bush<\/a><\/strong> is exactly what Denver needs. If the Broncos can have a stellar defense again, they can really focus on strengthening their weaknesses on the offensive side.<\/p>\n

For this coming season, it doesn\u2019t look like Denver will be home to any star quarterback. If they can compensate for such a lack by drafting players of a high grade in other positions, the team can still scrape by and perhaps make the playoffs.<\/p>\n

Main photo:
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>