Broncos GM explains draft-altering decision to pass on Justin Fields

[Nelly]

I think they made the right decision. Still too early to bail on Lock and if he falters they have Teddy. Part of the reason I thought Fields would be their at 11.

I guess it just depends on what you think of Fields. I wasn't in favor of giving up the farm for a shot at a guy in the top 5. Considering how far Fields fell, I love the value we got. Even at 8 or 9 I think he would have been a good pick. I can understand Carolina passing since they just dealt for a former 3rd overall pick but Denver has a 2nd round pick and a guy who just failed at being a starter.

 

[TL1961]

Broncos fan has gotta be like:
“Drew’s been working hard every day,” ... “Teddy’s going to bring some experience to the room, some leadership. So we’re really excited for both quarterbacks."

Are you fucking kidding me?!



The Broncos made the stunning decision to take cornerback Patrick Surtain II with the No. 9 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft Thursday, opting to leave one of the most highly-touted quarterbacks in Justin Fields on the table.
Sports Illustrated’s Mike Silver said on NFL Network Friday that Denver “really, really liked Fields,” but that they “just loved Patrick Surtain II more.”
Broncos general manager George Paton made a point to say the organization is content with Drew Lock, the quarterback they drafted in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, and recently acquired QB Teddy Bridgewater.
“Drew’s been working hard every day,” Paton told reporters after the conclusion of the first round Thursday. “Teddy’s going to bring some experience to the room, some leadership. So we’re really excited for both quarterbacks. We’re always looking at every position and quarterback’s another one, but we like the two we have.”
With the Panthers acquiring quarterback Sam Darnold from the Jets on the eve of the draft, Bridgewater was shipped to Denver in exchange for a sixth-round pick.
The Broncos passed on Justin Fields with the No. 9 pickGetty Images
Fields, the two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, was ultimately drafted at No. 11 by the Bears, who traded up with the Giants to make it happen. Chicago sent their 20th-overall pick, as well as their fifth-rounder and a first- and fourth-round pick next year, to the Giants in the deal.

“We’re so content with Drew that we traded for Teddy. “

“Teddy’s so good, every team in the league has employed him at some point.”

 

[TL1961]

I think they made the right decision. Still too early to bail on Lock and if he falters they have Teddy. Part of the reason I thought Fields would be their at 11.

I could see that as their reasoning if they had concerns about Fields. But to say you loved him and went with that combo? I don’t get it.

 

[Chicoman]

I think the person most disappointed that they didn't wind up in Denver with a nice offensive line and an explosive stable of skill position weapons is Justin Fields himself.

Not sure where you are getting that the Broncos line is good. They bitch about their line out here in Denver as much as Bears fans do.

Edit: also, weapons are probably a push. Two unproven wrs in Sutton and jeudy, fant at te and gordon at rob.

 

[dentfan]

They can mitigate the damage a bit by going QB in the 2nd at #40. I think you go with Trask or Mills. Mond seems to be the guy coming off the board next so he could be the pick.

OH! That would be epic!

They pass on the generational prospect to get an over-rated handsy guy from Alabama, who, once that 'bama Lustre is wiped off is going to have some serious issues, in order to then draft a dude in the second that's probably worse than the dude you already drafted in the second that you thought was a Locke (pun).

Go Broncos! I already was at this shit show during the pre-Fields Bears. Now, I be sipping hope out of a straw. These guys, fuck these guys.

 

[Leomaz]

Not sure where you are getting that the Broncos line is good. They bitch about their line out here in Denver as much as Bears fans do.

What he is saying is that the Bears made a mistake by not drafting Mahomes or Watson because our offensive line was so bad and that Justin Fields was a bad pick because our offensive line is so bad. Makes sense…..right?

 

[Montucky]

Not sure where you are getting that the Broncos line is good. They bitch about their line out here in Denver as much as Bears fans do.

Edit: also, weapons are probably a push. Two unproven wrs in Sutton and jeudy, fant at te and gordon at rob.

It is significantly better than the Bears now that they have Garrett Bolles playing well and locked up under contract.

 

[ThatGuyRyan]

I really thought the Broncos would add Fields and have Bridgewater be the vet guy for a year......

Same. When they announced the Denver, pick i told my gf it’s happening lol may have had an erection..

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

Drafting Surtain ain’t exactly settling.

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

The Lions at #7 did the Lions thing and passed on Fields even though Jared Goff is clearly a journeyman.

The Lions may have drafted a generational LT that the Bears will face twice a year. That’s not doing “a Lions thing.”

 

[modo]

Drafting Surtain ain’t exactly settling.

There is no cornerback that ever played the game that is better than a long term franchise QB...

 

[msadows]

I really thought the Broncos would add Fields and have Bridgewater be the vet guy for a year......

Same. When the broncos passed on fields I was in shock. At that moment it seemed like my fantasies might come to fruition.

 

[Bust]

Helped Fangio is a defensive coach and they need to win now mode.

 

[Perspective]

Patton didn’t believe that. It’s hubris. He got Bridgewater and thinks he will light it up when he was at Minnesota. We will see who is right.

When did Bridgewater ever light it up at Minnesota? This Bridgewater hype is unreal .... the guy has been worse than Mitch .... was lucky to play on two teams (Saints and Panthers) that are loaded on the O side of the ball with weapons and OL

 

[JoJoBoxer]

Seems like all the stars aligned for the Bears last night.

First, you've got San Francisco passing on Fields at #3. I'll never know why. Of all the top 5 guys I thought Lance was by far the riskiest. But, there's that.

The Lions at #7 did the Lions thing and passed on Fields even though Jared Goff is clearly a journeyman.

Next you look at Carolina at #8 and Denver at #9. Ironically enough before the draft, Carolina traded for Darnold which made Bridgewater expendable to the Broncos at #9. Both teams addressed the QB position, apparently enough in their minds to pass on Fields.

Onto #10, the Eagles obviously must have thought the Giants were eyeing Devonta Smith so they traded in the division to hop up and grab the last real #1 WR left on the board. Considering how the Giants ended up using the 20h pick, it's perfectly reasonable to assume that they were eyeing Smith and didn't want to reach for a guy like Toney at #20, so the door was open to trading down. Considering what the Giants were wanting, they made out awfully well picking up our first next year for a guy they might have entertained drafting in that spot anyway.

Nonetheless, there ya go. Combine that with how Rodgers may have played his last game as a Packer and not only did the door open up to just getting Fields, but it might be open to Fields being the best QB in the division by the end of this season.

There was talk that Denver started dreaming of getting Rodgers after the draft some time and got a CB because they thought that CB would be the most interesting rookie position for the Packers. So it is possible (probably not probable) that Rodgers news right before the draft caused Denver to not draft a QB (because the Packers already have Love ready to take the QB position if Rodgers were traded) allowing him to fall to 11 and the Bears. That died when the Packers drafted a CB.

 

[JoJoBoxer]

Bridgewater and ' light it up ' is mutually exclusive

But not 'light it up' and Denver.

 

[modo]

But not 'light it up' and Denver.

there is a dispensary every 50 feet here

 

[Soterod]

Broncos fan has gotta be like:
“Drew’s been working hard every day,” ... “Teddy’s going to bring some experience to the room, some leadership. So we’re really excited for both quarterbacks."

Are you fucking kidding me?!



The Broncos made the stunning decision to take cornerback Patrick Surtain II with the No. 9 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft Thursday, opting to leave one of the most highly-touted quarterbacks in Justin Fields on the table.
Sports Illustrated’s Mike Silver said on NFL Network Friday that Denver “really, really liked Fields,” but that they “just loved Patrick Surtain II more.”
Broncos general manager George Paton made a point to say the organization is content with Drew Lock, the quarterback they drafted in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, and recently acquired QB Teddy Bridgewater.
“Drew’s been working hard every day,” Paton told reporters after the conclusion of the first round Thursday. “Teddy’s going to bring some experience to the room, some leadership. So we’re really excited for both quarterbacks. We’re always looking at every position and quarterback’s another one, but we like the two we have.”
With the Panthers acquiring quarterback Sam Darnold from the Jets on the eve of the draft, Bridgewater was shipped to Denver in exchange for a sixth-round pick.
The Broncos passed on Justin Fields with the No. 9 pickGetty Images
Fields, the two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, was ultimately drafted at No. 11 by the Bears, who traded up with the Giants to make it happen. Chicago sent their 20th-overall pick, as well as their fifth-rounder and a first- and fourth-round pick next year, to the Giants in the deal.

I live out here in Colorado (western slope) . The media is going NUTS over Erin Rodgers being traded to the Broncos ! The local news was reporting Surtain II will be traded to the fudge !!