2016 mock draft roundup: QBs in the focus

OT Jason Spriggs, Indiana "Spriggs is a great athlete who will need a little developmental work but is the kind of guy who could thrive under coach Gary Kubiak in this system." [Mar. 8]

QB Paxton Lynch, Memphis "If the Broncos fail to land Colin Kaepernick in a trade, John Elway could cast his eyes to the draft to grab his franchise quarterback of the future. Although Lynch needs some time to develop, the presence of Mark Sanchez gives the Broncos ample time to wait on the talented playmaker." [Mar. 16]

DT Robert Nkemdiche, Mississippi "With Malik Jackson now in Jacksonville, the Broncos will be looking for new beef at the grocery store. Nkemdiche has his red flags, but he is one of the best talents in this draft class." [Mar. 28]

QB Paxton Lynch, Memphis "Brock Osweiler's departure was a surprise, but John Elway made a move for Mark Sanchez to be a place holder while they work to develop this Osweiler lookalike (height/build)." [Mar. 23]

DT Robert Nkemdiche, Mississippi "There is no denying that Nkemdiche is a risk, based on his numerous off-field issues and his tendency to coast on the field for stretches. But his peak film is perhaps the best of anyone at any position this draft, and he is a perfect fit for the scheme. Few teams are better equipped to reach and maximize a prospect like Nkemdiche than the Broncos, with leaders like DeMarcus Ware in the locker room and the caring, but fiery Bill Kollar as defensive line coach. If anyone could tap into Nkemdiche's potential, it is Kollar. I don't know that anyone has a better collection of circumstances to harness Nkemdiche's top-five potential than the Broncos." [Mar. 29]

QB Paxton Lynch, Memphis "The Broncos land their franchise QB." [Mar. 29]

DT Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss "Depending on how their quarterback situation shakes out, the Broncos could target Connor Cook here. For now, though, Nkemdiche is an intriguing fit. He has the skill set to play a versatile role within Wade Phillips' defense. He could potentially take over the spot vacated by Malik Jackson. Nkemdiche is a top-10 talent who fell this far because of inconsistent 2015 tape and behavioral concerns." [Mar. 24]

QB Paxton Lynch, Memphis "If the Broncos were to luck out and get a Brock Osweiler clone (at least physically speaking) at a fraction of the cost, John Elway would have to be doing backflips in his war room." [Mar. 21]

DT Vernon Butler, Louisiana Tech "Instant replacement for Malik Jackson, even if Butler is a different type of animal. Butler won't rush the passer with the same ferocity, but he has incredible length, good athleticism and nice power to collapse the pocket. Some are pegging him as a nose tackle, but he plays very well over tackles, too. John Elway and Co. were sniffing around a lot of D-linemen even before Jackson bolted, so this would not be a surprise." [Mar. 16]

QB Paxton Lynch, Memphis "A taller version of Jake Plummer to go along with a young WR corps and fiya defense. Watch out!" [Mar. 29]

OG Cody Whitehair, Kansas State "Whitehair ranked fourth in the nation among offensive tackles at +35.8 overall in 2014 and followed it up by leading the nation at +40.9 last year. He'll move to guard at the next level where he won't be a mauler, but his movement skills and ability to sustain blocks will be a perfect match for Denver's zone-blocking scheme." [Mar. 2]

DT Robert Nkemdiche, Mississippi "Denver lost some players in free agency and they need to patch the holes. Nkemdiche is a very flawed player, but the Broncos have the kind of depth that can allow him to be used as a situational interior rusher early while he learns to play the run and develop his game. In that role he could be very productive, and his potential is massive if he can add to his game." [Mar. 29]

QB Paxton Lynch, Memphis "The Broncos have lost everyone at quarterback. Lynch gives Denver an athletic quarterback with a big arm. You treat Lynch the same way you did the quarterbacks you had last year. Lynch's measurables are very similar to Brock Osweiler's. So, you know they are comfortable with the taller quarterback." [Mar. 21]

QB Paxton Lynch, Memphis "Lynch is a similar prospect to their former "starter of the future," Brock Osweiler." [Mar. 28]

QB Connor Cook, Michigan State "Surprised? Don't be considering Mark Sanchez is the current starting quarterback for the Broncos. Cook has some flaws -- his accuracy can be erratic -- but he comes from a pro-style offense and his arm talent is good enough for the NFL." [Mar. 14]

QB Paxton Lynch, Memphis "John Elway reacted quickly to Osweiler's surprise signing in Houston by trading for Mark Sanchez, but the Broncos are likely to re-invest at quarterback on draft day with Trevor Siemian the only other quarterback on the roster. The 6-7, 244-pound Lynch bears a striking resemblance to the 6-8, 240-pound Osweiler. Surprisingly athletic and boasting a live arm, Lynch has first-round upside but he's viewed by most as a project and therefore may "slip" lower on draft day than some of his hype suggests. He might be the perfect project, however, for coach Gary Kubiak to develop." [Mar. 27]

QB Connor Cook, Michigan State "Should they score Kaepernick or Griffin, the Broncos would be able to pass on drafting a QB for at least a year. If they don't gamble on either of those players, they should have Cook in mind late on Day 1. The Michigan State product comes with his own set of flaws and question marks, but he also has the requisite background to step in as a starter should Denver need him." [Mar. 23]

OT Jason Spriggs, Indiana "The combine was very good for Spriggs. He was best of his class in the 40, bench press, broad jump, and 20-yard shuttle, and his stock is rising. One of the better-looking athletes for his size, Spriggs has the foot quickness to stay in front of edge rushers in the NFL. Plus, his ability to reach-block and get in front of screens will be a real asset. He has some technique issues to clean up, with the way he sets he may give up some inside moves, and his strength against bull rushers is a concern, but there is too much good in his game to leave him out of the first round. The Broncos no longer have Peyton Manning to protect Denver's tackles with his quick release passes. Spriggs feels like the right fit here." [Mar. 15]

QB Connor Cook, Michigan State "What I heard Broncos football czar John Elway say was Denver was in the market for finding the next Brock Osweiler, meaning a quarterback to be drafted and developed, rather than just traded for. Maybe Mark Sanchez or even Josh McCown is the present, but Cook could be the future in Denver, and he's played in a pro-style offense that won't require a lengthy transition to the NFL game. If Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch should fall this far, he'd be another prime option for the Broncos, and he is even almost identical to Osweiler in size and athleticism." [Mar. 30]