The Denver Broncos made a trade this week for former New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson, but they are not changing their plans at the quarterback position for the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft. With the 12th overall pick, the Broncos have their eyes on Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. or Oregon’s Bo Nix, but they could also trade up to get their desired player.
According to Peyton Manning, who recently spoke on 104.3 The Fan’s Stokley and Josh, the Broncos have shown interest in Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy. Manning mentioned that he spoke with McCarthy on the phone and found him to be impressive. Many mock drafts predict McCarthy to be selected fifth overall by a team like the Minnesota Vikings, who might trade up to secure him as their franchise quarterback. If Denver wants McCarthy, they may need to negotiate a deal to move up in the draft.
McCarthy himself has expressed that the Broncos would be a good stylistic fit and that he has received valuable advice from Sean Payton during the pre-draft process. In 2023, McCarthy led the Wolverines to a perfect 15-0 record and won the College Football Playoff National Championship. He has an impressive record of 44 touchdowns and nine interceptions over the past two years, with a 27-1 record as a starter at Michigan. Despite not meeting specific statistical milestones at college, McCarthy is seen by NFL teams as having a high potential at the professional level. The Broncos seem to agree with this assessment and are considering making a move to secure him in the draft.
If Denver decides to pursue McCarthy, it will likely mean trading up in the draft or possibly even trading away current quarterback Russell Wilson in order to acquire more cap space for a new QB contract.
The NFL Draft is just around the corner and with so many talented prospects available this year it will be interesting to see what moves teams make leading up to it