ENGLEWOOD – There is a chance Sam Darnold will become the wild card in the Broncos’ Day 1 draft plans.
If Baker Mayfield goes No. 1 to Cleveland -- as has been reported and widely speculated -- if Josh Rosen goes No. 3 to the New York Jets -- as has been reported and speculated -- then surprisingly, improbably, Darnold could well be available by the time the Broncos are on the clock with their No. 5 pick. This would assume running back Saquon Barkley and defensive end Bradley Chubb are taken with the other two draft picks.
Darnold is John Elway’s No. 1 ranked quarterback in this draft, sources tell 9News. If Darnold is there, Elway will be tempted to take him. (Update: NFL.com reporter Ian Rapoport has reported the Broncos are trying to trade up to the New York Giants' No. 2 overall pick to take a quarterback. If the Broncos do get to No. 2, it would be to acquire Darnold.)
Another option: Use Darnold as the ultimate bargaining chip to trade back and get extra high-round draft picks from the Miami Dolphins, who have the No. 11 overall pick; the Buffalo Bills, who have the No. 12 and No. 22 first-round picks; or the Arizona Cardinals, who have the No. 15 overall pick.
Miami and Arizona would probably have to involve next year’s picks to make a deal work with the Broncos. The Bills could keep it to this year’s picks as they have an extra selection in each of the first, second and third rounds.
None of this is certain – if the Browns are taking Mayfield with their No. 1 overall pick, they have yet to notify the Heisman Trophy winner from Oklahoma or his representatives.
And it’s still difficult to believe Darnold will be there at No. 5. Even if he is still on the board, Elway could also consider Barkley, Chubb or guard Quenton Nelson with his No. 5 pick.
Understand this: Even if the Broncos do take Darnold, he would not be the team’s season-opening starter against the Seattle Seahawks on September 9.
Case Keenum, who was signed to a two-year, $36 million contract six weeks ago, will be the team’s No. 1 quarterback. Remember, many football experts thought Darnold should have returned to USC for another season. He did not have a great sophomore season as he led the nation with eight lost fumbles and was tied for 10th with 13 interceptions. He threw a pick-six in a Cotton Bowl loss to Ohio State with Elway and his top assistant Matt Russell watching in person.
Still, Darnold is considered the most complete quarterback, who can both throw – he tossed 57 combined touchdowns for more than 7,200 yards at an efficient 65 percent completion rate in his freshman and sophomore seasons – and throw on the run (seven rushing touchdowns).
