Which QB should Denver draft if all are available?

Q: If all the quarterbacks are still on the board in the draft, who should Denver pick?

Jude, Lahti, Finland

Q: Forgetting Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson for a while, are any of the available college quarterbacks a sure thing in your opinion? And might any of them be possibly available for the Broncos in the draft?

Mark, Albuquerque

RO: We grouped these two questions. First, I don't want to forget about the Broncos potentially acquiring Rodgers or Wilson, but I will for this exercise.

The Broncos currently sit No. 9 on the draft board, same as last year when they selected cornerback Pat Surtain II. If they still have their first-round pick and don't trade it away for a veteran quarterback, my preference is Pittsburgh's Kenny Pickett.

Why? Because if I'm the Broncos, I draft the most-ready quarterback available, start him right away like New England's Mac Jones in 2021 and lean on running back Javonte Williams (and maybe Melvin Gordon) and the defense to ease Pickett's transition.

Pickett started 49 games at Pitt (33-16 record) and had 81 touchdowns and 32 interceptions. Most impressive to me was how he improved his completion percentage from 58.1 as a redshirt freshman to 67.2 this year.

Q: Vic Fangio didn't seem to have a lot of communication with the players during the game even though he was the defensive play-caller. Do you know what Nathaniel Hackett's thoughts are about having the coordinators on the sideline during a game? My personal view is that the coordinators should be on the sideline to get a better feel for the game and know how the players are reacting to their calls. Your thoughts?

Mike, Omaha, Neb.

RO: Interesting topic. I don't put too much stock into how little Fangio interacted with defensive players between series. First, he was the head coach and needed to keep tabs on the game's entire scope. Second, that's why he had his assistants.

In 2021, among the coordinators and position coaches, only Pat Shurmur (offensive coordinator) and Christian Parker (defensive backs) were upstairs during the games. When Fangio returns to the league next year as a coordinator, he will likely call plays from the booth.

I don't know what Hackett's plan is yet for the coordinators and position coaches, but I'll go the other way, Mike, because I've had play-callers tell me they actually get a better feel for the game from upstairs.

Q: 1. Why can't the Broncos choose and stick to just one quarterback?

2. Also, you get to the point where you know you can't make the playoffs. Why not see what the players who have sat most of the season are capable of?

Steve Frost, Glasgow, Mont.

RO: 1. The quarterbacks the Broncos brought in the past few years didn't play well enough to earn a second year. Case Keenum was traded to Washington. Joe Flacco was cut. Drew Lock was demoted. And Teddy Bridgewater is a free agent. If any of those players had provided consistent production and made the playoffs, they would have earned a second season.

2. Out-of-left-field question, but it does have merit, but it hardly ever happens in the NFL. On the Broncos late in the 2021 season, injuries allowed the coaches and upper management to take a look at players like safety Caden Sterns, cornerback Michael Ojemudia and every available inside linebacker.