The Big BandAid: Aaron Rodgers is the only thing that can heal the hurt from Denvers downer of a draft – Mile High Sports

Riddle me this: How can a team thats won a grand total of 12 games in the last two seasons (none of which were playoff games, by the way), and possesses the 9th and 35th pick in the NFL Draft, not come away with a rookie whos already penciled in to start Week 1?

I, for one, am not quite sure how, but thats exactly what happened in Denver over a three-day stretch that many Broncos fans would prefer to forget.

Lets be clear though: George Patons first draft as the general manager of the Denver Broncos was not a bad one. In his first draft on the job, Paton most definitely landed talented players. Fans, for the most part, didnt have any issues with the players Denver did take; the issues festered from the ones Paton didnt take. It just wasnt the draft that Broncos fans wanted. It could also be said that its not the draft the Broncos needed.

The players headed to Denver, particularly the first two taken Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain II and North Carolina running back Javonte Williams should prove to be excellent players. Both talented. Both tough. Both rated highly by plenty of draft experts.

Neither, however, are instantly penciled in as starters as of today. Thats not because they couldnt start for plenty of teams they could. Its only that the Broncos have quality veterans already occupying their positions (at least for 2021).

Then theres the elephant in the room; not addressing the quarterback situation is atop the list of frustrations in Denver. There was the pre-draft excitement that future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers could be secured through a trade with Green Bay. It didnt happen (for anyone) ,but wen Ohio States Justin Fields miraculously fell to No. 9 right in Patons lap the former Viking executive said, Thanks but no thanks. More on that later.

Inside linebacker might be the only position that could stop the Broncos defense from being truly special this season, as the team hasnt had a sideline-to-sideline ILB since Danny Trevathan circa 2015. Penn States Micah Parsons, who many believed could put an end to that streak, was there at No. 9, too. But Parsons was also passed up in favor of Surtain II. Thats not to say Parsons is better or worse than Surtain both should be special but the Broncos had already spent the bulk of free agency shoring up the defensive back depth, so adding yet another seems head-scratching if not unnecessary. Ironically, Parsons is already the odds-on favorite to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Preseason awards arent worth anything, so thats not to say someone else maybe even Surtain II couldnt win it, but it perhaps indicates how most might evaluate the Broncos pick. There was a feeling that perhaps Notre Dame inside linebacker Jeramiah Owusu-Koramoah could be the target in Round 2 (or later), but clearly the Broncos had been eyeing Williams, as evidenced by their move up to get him.

Meanwhile, Melvin Gordon still resides in the Broncos backfield and Josey Jewell is currently the teams starting middle linebacker.

Middle linebacker was finally addressed with the final pick of the third round, as Paton grabbed Ohio States Baron Browning. Of all the Broncos picks, Browning might have the best shot to begin the season on top of the depth chart. But thats not a sure thing by any means.

We like his speed, like his athleticism, Fangio said of his rookie inside linebacker. We think he will be a major contributor on special teams and compete for one of the linebacker spots.

Browning could ultimately be phenomenal, but major contributor on special teams doesnt exactly instill confidence that the problem has been solved.

In short, with his first draft as the Broncos GM, Paton had the chance to win our hearts (Fields), warm our hearts (by filling an undeniable need with Parsons or Owusu-Koramoah), but instead left our hearts feeling empty. As good as Surtain, Williams and perhaps even Browning might be, none of them will be the difference between the Broncos going to the Super Bowl or not.

Whether Paton broke our hearts remains to be seen.

If Justin Fields turns out to be great. If Mac Jones turns out to be great. If Micah Parsons wins Defensive Rookie of the Year.

But those things are out of Patons control.

What remains in his control, however, is how hard he chooses to pursue Aaron Rodgers.

With Justin Fields, there was a chance (however major or minor youd like to believe) that the Broncos could have had their franchise quarterback a necessity in seriously contending for a Super Bowl. With Rodgers, theres a good chance the Broncos could compete for a fourth world championship this season.

General Paton might very well know talent. In fact, his choices of both Surtain II and Williams serve as evidence of that. But heres what Minnesota didnt teach him: Here, in Denver, Colorado, we dont win Super Bowls without a Hall of Fame quarterback. Thats just a fact. Thats a truth weve come to know and understand very well.

Funny thing, the closest that lesson ever came to being recently learned in Minnesota was in 2007 Patons first year with the Vikings when none other than Hall-of-Famer Brett Favre slung the rock all the way to the NFC Championship Game (a game they should have won, in fact). And while the Vikings had a few nice years after that including another trip to the conference finals in 2017 courtesy of one of the luckiest, flukiest touchdown catches in the history of football there were no championship parades in or around the Mall of the Americas. Ironically, the only times the Vikings have ever reached the Super Bowl, they did so behind you guessed it a Hall of Fame quarterback (Fran Tarkenton).

So here we sit, a mile high but feeling lower than low.

Why?

Well, we know better. We know that no matter how good our new cornerback or running back might be, were not going to the Super Bowl this year or any year soon.

Champ Bailey was one of the greatest cornerbacks to ever play the game, and it took a Hall of Fame quarterback to get him to his first and only Super Bowl.

In the 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 seasons, the Denver Broncos finished third or higher in the AFC in team rushing yards. They were good very good but never went to a Super Bowl. Why? The only answer we can come up with is that they didnt have a Hall of Fame quarterback. Thats all we know here in Denver.

Whether George Patons first draft with the Broncos was good, great or mediocre (thats not the point here), this team is going nowhere soon. At least nowhere important.

Unless, one of two things happen:

Drew Lock becomes the next Josh Allen and then some

Or, Aaron Rodgers becomes the next future Hall-of-Famer to call himself a Denver Bronco.

Super Bowls are what matter around here. Luckily, we have a decent idea of whats required to win one. And while George Paton has a six-year deal, the natives are getting restless. That might not be fair to him, but thats the way it is Denver. Above all, we need hope, but the 2021 NFL Draft didnt deliver any of that.

Aaron Rodgers will.

Mr. Paton, if its not too much to ask

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The Big BandAid: Aaron Rodgers is the only thing that can heal the hurt from Denvers downer of a draft - Mile High Sports