Broncos Draft Rumors: Denver Could Pick Quarterback After Teddy Bridgewater Trade

With five quarterbacks expected to be taken near the top of the 2021 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos have been viewed as a candidate to select a signal-caller in the first round. That hasn’t changed, even after the team's trade for Teddy Bridgewater.

Denver has acquired Bridgewater from the Carolina Panthers in exchange for a sixth-round pick one day before the draft starts. The move doesn’t take the Broncos out of the market for a quarterback with the No. 9 overall pick, a source told ESPN.

“Acquiring Teddy Bridgewater adds competition, experience and a strong veteran presence to our quarterback room,” Broncos general manager George Paton said in a statement. “He's a talented player and leader who's had success in this league in a number of different situations.”

Panthers are trading to QB Teddy Bridgewater to the Broncos for a sixth-round pick, as @TomPelissero reported.

Panthers paying Bridgewater $7 million, Broncos paying him $3 million, per source.

Trade does not take Denver out of QB market Thursday night, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 28, 2021

The Broncos have said they want to create competition at the quarterback position. The team still has hopes for Drew Lock, a 2019 second-round pick who has struggled in 18 NFL starts.

North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance has been linked to Denver more than any other quarterback in this year’s class. The 20-year-old is viewed as the least NFL-ready of the potential first-round quarterback, though he’s thought to have a high upside.

Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and BYU’s Zach Wilson are expected to be taken with the first two picks of the draft. The San Francisco 49ers plan to take a quarterback with the No. 3 overall pick. Alabama’s Mac Jones is favored to land in San Francisco, but there’s a chance the 49ers will go with Lance.

Ohio State star Justin Fields could intrigue the Broncos if he's still on the board at No. 9. During the college football season, Fields was widely considered to be the second-best quarterback prospect in the 2021 draft.

The Broncos have missed the playoffs in five straight seasons in large part because of poor quarterback play.

Lock went 4-9 with a league high-15 interceptions last season. Bridgewater posted a 4-11 record with 15 touchdown passes and 11 picks.