KUSA – A Broncos contingent that includes general manager John Elway and his top lieutenants Matt Russell and Gary Kubiak is heading to Columbia, Mo. to watch the SEC game tonight between the Missouri Tigers and Arkansas Razorbacks.
While there are several NFL prospects playing in the game, Missouri quarterback Drew Lock is considered a potential first-round pick. A senior from Lee’s Summit, Mo., Lock is 6-foot-4, 225 pounds.
In his last three seasons, Lock has thrown 90 touchdown passes against just 31 interceptions. Broncos center Connor McGovern was a senior left tackle at Missouri when Lock was a fresham in 2015.
"Great player, great guy,'' said McGovern, when asked about Lock. "Any team would be lucky to have him.''
Lock is the second college quarterback Elway will personally scout this fall, but probably not the last. Earlier this season, Elway and Russell, the Broncos’ director of player personnel, watched Oregon play Washington in a game that featured Ducks’ junior quarterback Justin Herbert.
Other potential first-round quarterbacks include West Virginia's Will Grier, Duke's Daniel Jones and Ohio State's Daniel Haskins.
That doesn’t mean Elway will select a quarterback in the first round of the 2019 draft. The Broncos have other pressing needs, specifically at cornerback and the offensive line. But it does mean Elway may consider taking a QB.
The Broncos’ current quarterback, Case Keenum, will be in the final year of his contract next season. It's possible the Broncos would have Keenum start next year and serve as a veteran mentor to a young quarterback the Broncos desperately need after former draft picks Paxton Lynch and Chad Kelly were cut in recent months.
