Elway: Happy With QBs; Bradford Cost Too Much
- Broncos GM John Elway told Peter King of TheMMQB.com that he’s happy about the way his quarterback search turned out. “Do I have any regrets about this whole thing?” Elway said. “No. We’re thrilled to have ended up where we are, with Paxton. If you had said to me, ‘Here are your four options,’ and you named the four we just went through, this is the one we’d take. We think Paxton [Lynch], long-term, is a perfect fit for our offense.” Elway also indicated that he’s comfortable with having Mark Sanchez start the season while Lynch makes his transition to the next level.
- Elway also told King that the Eagles were asking “way too much” for Sam Bradford when the Broncos reached out to the Eagles.
Extra Points: Broncos, Lynch, Bills, Lawson
The first round of the 2016 draft ended when the Seahawks selected offensive lineman Germain Ifedi, but there are still quite a few interesting options left on the board — which isn’t surprising given the depth of this draft class.
The most high-profile name is UCLA linebacker Myles Jack, who was projected as a top-five pick but wasn’t chosen, presumably because of health concerns. A cadre of defensive tackles, including Chris Jones, Jarran Reed, A’Shawn Robinson, Andrew Billings, Emmanuel Ogbah, and Kevin Dodd are still left, as is linebacker Reggie Ragland and cornerback Mackensie Alexander. On the offensive side of the ball, quarterback Connor Cook, running back Derrick Henry, wide receiver Sterling Shepard, tight end Hunter Henry, and offensive lineman Cody Whitehair are still available.
More from the draft, as we look forward to rounds two and three on Friday…
- The Broncos talked to every team starting with the Falcons at No. 17 about a move up to draft Paxton Lynch, John Elway tells Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com. Elway adds that Denver will continue to look at other quarterback options, and might still bring in a veteran QB.
- The Cowboys spent more time with Lynch than any other team club did, tweets Ed Werder of ESPN.com. Dallas was considering trading back up into the first round, per reports, but stopped their efforts once Lynch was drafted by Denver.
- Although a report tonight indicated that new Bills edge rusher Shaq Lawson would require shoulder surgery at some point, Lawson says that report is false, according to Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News (Twitter link). Such a procedure would reportedly force Lawson out of action for four-to-six months.
- GM Dave Gettleman said the Panthers received seven calls from teams interested in acquiring the No. 30 pick, but he was comfortable staying put and drafting defensive tackle Vernon Butler (Twitter link via Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer).
- Chargers GM Tom Telesco said his team may have the opportunity to trade down in the second round on Friday, tweets Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune. The team holds the fourth pick of the second round (No. 35 overall).
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
Broncos Will Not Pursue Colin Kaepernick
Those sick of the lengthy Colin Kaepernick/Broncos saga can breathe a sign of relief tonight. After trading up to select Paxton Lynch in tonight’s draft, GM John Elway confirmed to Mike Klis of 9NEWS (Twitter link) that the team will no longer pursue the 49ers quarterback.
The Broncos and 49ers have been discussing a Kaepernick deal for most of the offseason to date. A deal seemed to be close earlier this month, but the proposed swap was blown up when No. 7 refused to take the severe pay cut being requested by Denver.
As of three weeks ago, the Broncos were reportedly hoping to push his $11.9MM number down to $7MM and have Kaepernick also take pay cuts in the other years of his deal. However, Kaepernick’s camp was committed to either keeping the salaries intact or changing the contract to allow him to hit free agency next offseason, when his controlling team could cut him before his salary becomes guaranteed for 2017.
Now that Kaepernick’s leading suitor has pulled out of the chase, the Niners must turn their attention to other QB-needy teams or try and smooth things over with Kaepernick. The Jets, at one point in time, were connected to Kaepernick and it’s conceivable that they could get some dialogue going as talks with Ryan Fitzpatrick remain at a standstill. However, some reports have indicated that the Jets aren’t all that interested in Kaepernick, despite his apparent interest in them.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Broncos Acquire No. 26 Pick From Seahawks
The Broncos have acquired the No. 26 pick from the Seahawks, according to SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter link). Denver will send the 31st pick and a 2016 third-rounder (No. 94) to Seattle, per Broncos PR man Patrick Smyth (Twitter link). The Broncos will use the pick to draft Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch, tweets Mike Klis of 9NEWS.
Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link) reported just prior to the trade that Denver was looking to move up with its eye on a quarterback, and now they’ve acquired Lynch, who was widely viewed as the third-best QB in the draft. He’ll head to the Mile High City and presumably compete with Mark Sanchez for the starting quarterback gig.
The Broncos, of course, have been linked to a multitude of veteran QB options, including Colin Kaepernick, Sam Bradford, Brian Hoyer, and Ryan Fitzpatrick. However, with Lynch in the organization, it’s probably safe to say that any efforts to land an outside quarterback option will cease.
Pauline’s Latest: OTs, Steelers, Packers, Bucs
League insiders believe that as many as six offensive tackles could be selected in the first round of tonight’s draft, according to Tony Pauline of WalterFootball.com. Laremy Tunsil, Ronnie Stanley, Jack Conklin, and Taylor Decker are the obvious names, but Jason Spriggs, Le’Raven Clark, and Germain Ifedi are also candidates to go off the board tonight. The clubs that have put the most research into offensive tackles, per Pauline? The Colts, Packers, Seahawks, Broncos, Panthers, and Steelers.
Let’s check out the latest draft rumors, all courtesy of Pauline:
- Among the teams hoping to trade down tonight are the Falcons, Colts, Vikings, and Jets, according to Pauline. On the other side of the coin, the Cardinals, Panthers, and Broncos may like to trade up. Denver, presumably, would be targeting a quarterback in a trade-up scenario.
- The Steelers will consider a cornerback at pick No. 25, but they’ll also look at offensive tackles, writes Pauline. Pittsburgh returns Alejandro Villanueva at tackle, and signed Ryan Harris this offseason, but an upgrade wouldn’t be out of the question.
- The Packers might also like to find a new left tackle, says Pauline, as Green Bay would like to transition incumbent David Bakhtiari to left guard.
- If pass rusher Noah Spence is still available at the end of the first round, a club might trade back up in order to draft him, per Pauline. The Buccaneers are one team to watch in such a situation.
49ers GM: Kaepernick Could Be Traded This Week
- Speaking of which, 49ers GM Trent Baalke told Bob Holtzman of ESPN that it’s possible Kaepernick could be traded this week (Twitter link via Schefter). The Broncos, of course, have been heavily connected to Kaepernick in recent weeks. Trade talks have reportedly been at a standstill as the QB refuses to take the kind of pay cut that Denver is pushing.
Broncos Moving On From Sam Bradford
The Broncos reached out to the Eagles to inquire on Sam Bradford earlier this week, but they will now shift their focus in their quarterback search. Denver does not expect Philadelphia to trade Bradford to the Broncos or to any team, for that matter, according to sources who spoke with Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). 
Recently, Bradford requested a trade from the Eagles, but the Eagles refused to give Bradford and his representatives permission to seek a trade. Furthermore, they have been steadfast in saying that Bradford will be their starting QB in 2016. Bradford is reportedly upset with the Eagles following their trade up to the No. 2 pick in the draft with the intent of selecting a quarterback. That deal came just six weeks after the Eagles re-upped Bradford on a lucrative two-year contract and the Eagles apparently did not let him or his agent in on the plan.
Agent Tom Condon and Bradford also feel that the team is not built to win in the immediate future after so many assets were shipped to the Browns.
“It’s his right to demand a trade and he wants to be traded,” Condon said. “Basically, our contention is that the team could have used the draft picks on offensive and defensive players for this season, to win this season. If the plan was to build for the future, where does that leave Sam this year?”
Bradford, acquired a year ago by Chip Kelly‘s Eagles in a trade with the Rams, had his ups and downs in 14 starts for Philadelphia in 2015, but his overall numbers have been solid. The Oklahoma product set new career-highs with a 65.0% completion percentage, and 3,725 yards passing. He also tossed 19 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, leading the club to a 7-7 record in his starts.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Broncos Met With Taylor Decker
- Lions GM Bob Quinn and head coach Jim Caldwell went to Ohio State to work out offensive tackle Taylor Decker, as Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press writes. If Detroit goes tackle in the first round, Birkett gets the sense that Decker could be their guy. Decker says that he has also met with the Bills, Broncos, and Titans.
Brian Hoyer To Sign After Draft
Free agent quarterback Brian Hoyer plans to wait to see how the draft plays out this week before choosing where to sign, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). That means that Hoyer’s free agency will drag until next week.
Hoyer visited the Jets and Broncos earlier this month and there are reportedly “at least” half a dozen teams with interest in signing him. Both teams, of course, are currently scouring the market for quarterback options. The Broncos ID’d Colin Kaepernick as a target weeks ago, but talks with the 49ers are on hold after Kaepernick refused to take a drastic pay cut. The Jets, meanwhile, are at a standstill in their negotiations with Ryan Fitzpatrick. Gang Green is reportedly fixated on Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch and if they ultimately select him, that could cause both Hoyer and Fitzpatrick to lose out on a suitor.
Hoyer, 30, made nine starts and appeared in 11 total games for the Texans in 2015, and enjoyed his best season as a pro. The Michigan State product completed more than 60% of his passes, throwing for 2,606 yards, 19 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions. Houston went 5-4 in Hoyer’s starts, but he became expendable when the team went out and signed Brock Osweiler to a four-year, $72MM deal in free agency last month. The Texans released the veteran, though GM Rick Smith contends that he could have traded him for a draft pick.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Broncos Interested In Alex Hansen
- Air Force defensive end/outside linebacker Alex Hansen is drawing late interest from the Chargers, Eagles, Ravens, Texans, Broncos, Rams, and Lions, Wilson tweets.