5 players Broncos should draft in the first round

4. Trey Lance

Lance falling all the way down to No. 9 likely represents the best-case scenario for the Broncos in Round 1. If he’s on the board when they go on the clock it will be a major surprise if they don’t end his moderate draft day tumble.

One of the biggest criticisms about Lock in Denver is that he can’t push the ball down the field with any real effectiveness. Lance has the arm strength to help open up the Broncos’ offense in the final third. Add in his plus mobility for a guy his size and it’s easy to see how he can add some important dynamism to this offense.

The only question with Lance is whether or not he’s ready to unseat Lock immediately. The jump from North Dakota State to the NFL is significant. It might take Lance a healthy chunk of the season to get up and running with the intricacies of Denver’s offense.

The bottom line is that nothing is more important than getting the right quarterback in the modern NFL. Lance may not be ready to play right away, but he’d give the Broncos a potential difference-maker for the future. If he’s still there at nine Denver will be ecstatic.