Broncos Will Be ‘Aggressive’ in Securing a ‘Top QB,’ According to Draft Insider.

What transpires for the Denver Broncos this offseason at quarterback? Everyone is asking themselves that question, including the media and fans, and the general consensus is that Russell Wilson will be freed.

Should that occur, the Broncos will find themselves banished to the quarterback desert, a place they have frequently found themselves since Super Bowl 50. With Wilson not in the mix and the No. 12 overall pick in the NFL draft, it would be shocking if the Broncos passed on a quarterback.

The most popular name recently associated with Denver? Bo Nix from Oregon. Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus, who called Nix the “perfect fit” for Sean Payton just a few weeks ago, is the latest to make fun of the Broncos. The Broncos are expected to be “aggressive” in their pursuit of a top quarterback pick this year, according to the PFF draft expert.

This choice won’t cause any division or anything. Still, we have to play as though Wilson won’t be the quarterback for the Broncos next season. I can’t see them moving on from Wilson just to sign a journeyman backup quarterback to be their starter because Wilson’s dead money will still be there.

The Broncos should be proactive in their pursuit of a good quarterback, and Nix should be high on their list as well. Nix has changed as a player during his time at Auburn. This previous season, he achieved a 91.2 PFF passing grade under duress, earning a 92.7 PFF passing grade. If you combine his NFL-caliber arm strength with some additional leg movement, you have a quarterback that is worth selecting in the first round.

It’s interesting that Ikkema says the Broncos will be “aggressive” in their pursuit of a quarterback. Does that imply going for the top three? Or is Sikkema just referring to the Broncos’ strategy of making sure a quarterback is selected sometime during the first round? Payton has a track record of pursuing his top draft prospects with a fair amount of aggression.

Even though Payton has never been a part of a spectacular transaction to crack the top 5, he has a long history of trading up as a draft artist to make sure he gets his man. Despite not having a second-round pick when he started his first draft as the head coach of the Broncos, Payton managed to package a deal to move up and choose wideout-turned-All-Pro returner Marvin Mims Jr. with pick 63.

I could see Payton and the Broncos moving heaven and earth to acquire their franchise quarterback of the future if Wilson is cut. However, a significant trade-up into the top three would require Chicago, Washington, or New England to be willing to make deals, and none of the three appear to be willing to go down at this time.