The Denver Broncos are visiting various locations before the 2024 draft, as expected. They are observing potential players across the country during pro days.
Denver had scouts at the pro days of Oregon quarterback Bo Nix and his USC counterpart, Caleb Williams. Other prospects were present, but the focus was on the quarterbacks.
The Broncos increased their participation level for Michigan’s pro day.
Reese’s Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy shared a list of attendees at the event, and Broncos general manager George Paton.
was among them. Despite eight other general managers also attending, Paton's presence is notable, especially given the prior visits from Nix and Williams. It reflects ongoing interest in McCarthy, particularly from Paton.
Paton verified his intention to meet with McCarthy at the scouting combine in February.
“It was fantastic,” McCarthy stated to reporters on March 1 about the meeting. “Coach Payton’s energy, coach [Davis] Webb, coach [Joe] Lombardi. It was an enjoyable experience, and a blessing to gain insights and answer their questions. I really appreciated it.”
When asked about potentially playing for Payton if the Broncos draft him, McCarthy cited their shared midwestern roots.
“As a fellow Illinois guy, it would be an honor to play for him,” McCarthy expressed. “The entire process has been great, and it would be an honor to be selected by any team.”
McCarthy has notably been compared to players from the to former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees , with the added dynamic of plus athleticism for the position.
This makes the absence of a key Broncos figure stand out even more.
Sean Payton’s Absence Could Indicate Broncos’ Draft Plans
GettyHead coach Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos.
Their level of attendance suggests that Payton may not have found a favorite among the prospects, at least not enough to attend Nix or Williams’ respective pro days. He had stated on “Up & Adams” on February 9 that he was aiming to do that for every position.
The latter could imply that the Broncos acknowledge the high likelihood of the Chicago Bears selecting Williams.
Payton has previously spoken highly of Williams as a prospect.
Paton was keen on seeing McCarthy in person after not attending Nix or Williams’ pro days. It might also be a matter of location, as both Nix and Williams, as well as Washington’s Michael Penix Jr, play much closer to home.
Still, McCarthy’s championship pedigree and the high praise he has received during the pre-draft process make him a player to watch as the draft approaches (April 25).
Penix’s pro day is scheduled for March 28, the same day as North Carolina’s Drake Maye.
It will be interesting to see who the Broncos choose to send to each event – if they decide to send anyone significant at all. Their recent trade that sent Jerry Jeudy to the Cleveland Browns might be ready to make a big impact.
Broncos Scout More Than Quarterbacks at Michigan Pro Day
GettyJ.J. McCarthy #9 of the Michigan Wolverines.
Paton was not alone in Ann Arbor to see the draft prospects. Broncos staffers joined him to get a glimpse of the Wolverines’ offensive linemen.
Michigan had six offensive linemen on hand for the workout. Each of Karsen Barnhart, LaDarius Henderson, Trente Jones, Trevor Keegan, Drake Nugent, and Zak Zinter might be selected in the draft.
Pro Football Focus expects that they will all be Day 3 picks.
This may work in the Broncos’ favor since they don’t have a second-round pick. They only have one pick in the top 50 of the draft. They could have even less if they trade up for a QB.
