Is it possible for the Denver Broncos and Sean Payton to discover the NFL’s upcoming talent akin to Baker Mayfield? Assessing the numerous potential candidates.
In the recent NFL Divisional Round playoffs, notable quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and C.J. Stroud took the field. Surprisingly, among the starting quarterbacks, only Jared Goff and Baker Mayfield, both former No. 1 overall picks, did not play for the teams that drafted them.
Remarkably, both Goff and Mayfield were traded away by their original teams. The Los Angeles Rams included Goff in a trade to the Detroit Lions, acquiring Matthew Stafford in return, and Goff has since become a key player for the Lions, emerging as their franchise quarterback. Similarly, the Cleveland Browns traded Mayfield to the Carolina Panthers as part of a deal for Deshaun Watson. After brief stints with Carolina and the Los Angeles Rams in 2022, Mayfield secured the starting position with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this season, leading them to a playoff run.
Considering the potential departure of Russell Wilson, the Denver Broncos may be in the market for a new starting quarterback. The question arises: Can Sean Payton identify and revive the career of a former top draft pick to secure the Broncos’ quarterback of the future?
In this two-part series, we will explore various quarterbacks drafted in or near the top 10 who will become free agents this year, offering the Broncos an opportunity to find a talent akin to Baker Mayfield. The second part, scheduled for release on January 29, will delve into quarterbacks drafted in or near the top 10 that the Broncos could potentially trade for, aiming to discover their own version of Detroit’s Jared Goff.
