Broncos Mailbag: Would left tackle Penei Sewell be pick at No. 9 if he’s still on board?

Denver Post Broncos writer Ryan O’Halloran posts his Broncos Mailbag periodically during the offseason. Submit questions to Ryan here.

Hi Ryan, I am wondering about the mindset of Drew Lock. I do think he can be a good quarterback if he would stop getting hurt. How is he handling all of this talk about the Broncos looking at quarterbacks in the draft or even bringing one in? I know last year he was told he was outright the starter; now the Broncos say he is their quarterback, but they are looking at other options. This has to be weighing on him mentally and I am sure it will affect his performance during training camp and during the games.

— Del, Lamar

Lock is a professional so even if he doesn’t like the chatter about his replacement being acquired, he will understand this is a production-based business and if he hadn’t thrown nearly as many interceptions (15) as touchdowns (16) last year, new general manager George Paton would be ready to move forward with him.

Lock was calloused by his college career, when he had to put Missouri on his shoulders to try and beat the best teams in the SEC. His approach should be to prepare himself to the best of his ability and have the mindset that he will start in Week 1 and he will play well enough to keep the job.

If Lock is placed into a training camp quarterback competition and he struggles, then the Broncos will have made the right move by adding a replacement.

How about Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell with the ninth pick? How does Drew Lock play when the O-line gives him time vs. when he has to get rid of the ball? Would Lock, and the offense, improve with improved O-line play? Spend your draft capital there, Mr. Paton!

— David Brown, Silverthorne

One of these top offensive players is going to fall, right? The key for Sewell, who opted out of Oregon’s season in 2020, sliding is if Cincinnati (No. 5) goes receiver or tight end and Carolina (No. 8) goes cornerback or receiver … or one of them goes left tackle but opts for Northwestern’s Rashawn Slater.

If Sewell is on the board at No. 9, he would be tough to pass up if the Broncos believe he could flip over to the right side and eventually replace Ja’Wuan James. That pick would also have a lot of value if a team wants to trade into the Broncos’ slot to take Sewell.

Every single quarterback is more effective when he has more time to throw. Pass protection wasn’t an issue for the Broncos last year.

Ryan, do you think since the MLB All-Star Game is coming to Denver this year, it improves the chances we’ll host an NFL Draft at some point?

— David R., Boulder

I wouldn’t think the two events are related. The last time I brought up hosting the NFL Draft to a Broncos official, it was March 2019 and it didn’t sound like they were considering bidding for the event.

Plus, Denver would have to get in line. Cleveland is hosting it this year and Las Vegas has it in 2022. I figure Los Angeles will get it in the near future because of its new stadium.

Put your Broncos General Manager cap on and tell me what you’d do if you were George Paton. It feels like it’d be a huge drain on draft capital if we try to land one of the top four quarterbacks. Do you stay at No. 9 and pick the best player available? Do you move down and add to the draft stockpile while going after one of the top cornerbacks? Do you just pull the trigger and go for Mac Jones?

— Ray, Cheyenne, Wyo.

Putting my GM hat on … I would refuse the temptation to trade up more than two spots so if one of the quarterbacks fall — and I think he can be The Guy — I call Detroit at No. 7 and Carolina at No. 8.

The more interesting scenario is does Paton take the best player available on the board or draft for need? The way the draft could set up, he could trade down and still draft for need (cornerback or linebacker).

Mac Jones is obviously an interesting prospect if San Francisco passes on him at No. 3. He checks a lot of key boxes in terms of football IQ and accuracy.

What does the offense look like this year? I imagine with Courtland Sutton back, he’ll be the No. 1 guy at receiver. Would Tim Patrick line up across him with Jerry Jeudy at the slot? Where does KJ Hamler fit into the equation? Also, who’s the No. 2 back behind Melvin Gordon — Royce Freeman or someone we’ve yet to draft?

— Smiley, Kansas City, Mo.

Tough to really project the offense when we don’t know who the Week 1 quarterback will be, but I can work around the edges.

Sutton: If he’s back at full health following his ACL injury, him and Jeudy are the starters and I like using Hamler out of the slot. Patrick is a valuable No. 4 receiver who could become a special teams force if his offensive snaps are reduced.

No. 2 running back: Up in the air. I don’t mind Freeman as the No. 2 and he has shown the ability to pass protect and catch passes.

Denver Post Broncos writer Ryan O’Halloran posts his Broncos Mailbag periodically during the offseason. Submit questions to Ryan here.