Woody Paige: Drafting QBs is not the Broncos’ strong suit

As a head coach for 16 seasons Sean Payton, a former quarterback, knows nearly nothing about drafting quarterbacks.

As a general manager for three seasons, George Paton, a former quarterback, barely knows something about drafting quarterbacks.

As chairman of the Walmart board of directors since 2015 Greg Penner, a former Ironman competitor, absolutely knows nada, nil, naught about drafting quarterbacks.

As GM, exec VP and president of football operations from 2011 to 2021, John Elway, a former quarterback, should have known better about drafting quarterbacks.

A professional football franchise from 1960 to 2023, the Denver Broncos, who have drafted 48 quarterbacks in history, obviously never knew anything about drafting quarterbacks.

So, does anyone among us great unwashed masses believe that Payton, Paton and Penner will select, in the middle of the 2024 draft’s first round, a quarterback who will lead the Broncos out of the wilderness wasteland?

With their top pick, historically the Broncos have chosen merely three quarterbacks — Tommy Maddox (1992), Jay Cutler (2004) and Paxton Lynch (2016). Tim Tebow was drafted with the Broncos’ second selection in 2010’s first round, and Drew Lock was 2B (or not 2B QB) at No. 42 in ’19. Tebow remains as the one and only Broncos drafted quarterback to start and win a game in the playoffs.

During Payton’s reign from 2006 to 2021 (with one year off for bad behavior) in New Orleans, the Saints took just four college quarterbacks — Sean (yes) Canfield in 2010 (seventh round), Colorado State’s Garrett Grayson in ‘15 (3), Tommy Stevens in 20’ (7) and Ian Book in ’21 (4). Canfield and Book each played in a single NFL game, Grayson and Stevens none.

As Dan Reeves and Mike Shanahan were beholden to John Elway (obtained in a post-draft trade) for 16 seasons and five Super Bowls, and John Fox and Gary Kubiak relied heavily on Peyton Manning (signed as a free agent) for four seasons and two Super Bowls, Payton was bonded with Drew Brees (a free agent) for 15 seasons and one Super Bowl.

Payton did try to turn Taysom Hill into a Timmy Tebow doppelganger.

But the coach always has been much more fascinated by veteran backup quarterbacks — Mark Brunell (who once beat the Broncos in a playoffs upset), Chase Daniel, Luke McCown, Jameis Winston and even Teddy Bridgewater and Trevor Siemian.

Now, he is into Jarrett Stidham, who on New Year’s Eve will become the Broncos’ 57th all-time starting quarterback.

He’s replacing Russell Wilson, who used to be the Broncos’ starting quarterback way back on Christmas Eve.

Wilson has become a veteran backup quarterback for Payton and the Broncos.

Temporarily.

Wilson won’t be with the Broncos next season, and he might prefer to  be a no-show Sunday like 25,000 season-ticket holders. Former legendary Cowboys quarterback Ben DiNucci was not elevated Saturday from the practice squad, so Wilson, whose relationship with the Broncos is quite tenuous after his declarations and accusations in a group interview Friday (on the 60th birthday of Payton, who seemed irked he did not get a cake from the media), will have to stand on the sideline.

If not, what happens should Stidham … well, never mind.

Payton-Wilson never was a match made in heaven, but it’s certainly a punishment in purgatory before 2024. Russell regrets reaching out in January through an emissary to Payton and encouraging him to take the Denver job. Payton may regret coming to the Broncos — even for $90 million.

The mix didn’t mesh.

Somewhere in Cleveland, Nathaniel Hackett must be chuckling, although he has his own complications.

Broncos GM George, who arranged what is being determined as the Worst Deal of this Century, can’t (and shouldn’t) be secure with his position, and CEO Greg, who approved Wilson’s quarter-billion-dollar extension, has to figure a way out of his and this quarterback quandary and Bronco fiasco before the franchise stays in the Dark Ages of chaos with white helmets.

The Payton, Penner & Paton problem is the free agent list for next year consists of Oh, Jays! — Jameis, Joshua, Jacoby, Jake and Joe, who will be 39 in January — or they can continue with the returning Jarrett.

The Broncos could attempt to trade up in the draft for three other J’s — Jayden Daniels or J.J. McCarthy.

But Payton doesn’t like rookie QBs and never had one as a starter, and the Broncos never drafted a world-class quarterback who is a J — as in Josh. Thank God and the Colts for John.