ENGLEWOOD, Colo. --Trevor Siemian is the second quarterback drafted in the last three seventh rounds by the Broncos, and as with most passers picked in that round, the Northwestern product will be a project, who could battle with Zac Dysert for the No. 3 position.
A three-year starter for the Wildcats, Siemian threw 27 touchdown passes during his college career -- but also tossed 24 interceptions. He threw seven touchdowns against 11 interceptions last year before he tore his anterior cruciate ligament last November.
"Obviously, if his numbers were a lot better, we wouldn't have had the opportunity to get him there (in the seventh round)," Executive Vice President/General Manager John Elway said.
Siemian is expected to begin practicing by June. At that point, the Broncos will begin learning what they have in their skilled, but raw, passer.
"He's definitely got the traits and the ability," Head Coach Gary Kubiak said. "We'll see."
To his credit, Siemian knows where he must improve: consistency and in on-the-fly decision-making.
"One thing I would say I want to improve on is doing better when I have to move around and make decisions in crunch time, and by 'crunch time' I mean when the pocket is collapsing. I could do a better job in that regard, I would say," he added later.
With good size and arm strength, Siemian has the attributes of a pro-style quarterback.
"He plays well in his feet and his technique and everything that he can do is pretty darn good," Elway said.
Check out photos of the Broncos' three seventh-round picks, Trevor Siemian, Taurean Nixon and Josh Furman.
"Obviously, we took into account playing in Chicago in the wintertime. We really thought that he had some upside, because of where he was and where he starts and his ability to understand the game of football."
Quarterbacks Coach/Passing Game Coordinator Greg Knapp worked Siemian out at Northwestern, giving the Broncos a chance to get to know him.
"One day I went down to Knapper's office," Kubiak recalled, "and he said, 'Did you look at this young man?' I like what he did. I like his feet; I think he's way ahead of the curve, because he did play under center recently."
