Can Broncos get the No. 5 (or better) pick in the 2019 NFL draft?

Kiz: How low can the Broncos go? After a 19-17 loss to the Texans, Denver enters the bye week, when we offer farewell kisses to any hope of a .500 season. I know general manager John Elway makes a bitter-beer face at the prospect of drafting early in the first round, but the Broncos need to take that medicine. So what’s the best draft position Denver can dream about, and will it be good enough to get a franchise quarterback?

O’Halloran: Let’s put a target on the Broncos’ final record being 5-11 with wins over Cleveland and Oakland. That puts the Broncos behind the Raiders, Buffalo, the Giants and Arizona. The Bills and Cardinals will be open for trade business since they drafted Joshes Allen and Rosen, respectively, last year. The Giants must take a quarterback if they haven’t traded for one by late April. The “best” case position for the Broncos is Nos. 5-10.

Kiz: With an 8-17 record, Vance Joseph has the worst winning percentage of any Broncos coach to work the sideline for at least 25 games since Mac Speedie in the mid-1960s. So despite the presence of the gosh-awful Browns, 49ers and Raiders on the remaining schedule, it’s hard to envision how Denver finishes with more than six victories and is awarded anything worse than the No. 9 overall draft pick. But it’s tough for me to envision how Denver can get to No. 5 or better. There are just too many bad teams in the league.

O’Halloran: The Broncos need a few first-year coaches to win some games down the stretch, chiefly Indianapolis’ Frank Reich (3-5), Tennessee’s Mike Vrabel (3-4 entering Monday night’s game at Dallas) and Detroit’s Matt Patricia (3-5). That would help the Broncos get in the top 10. But you’re right, the presence of the Raiders, Bills, Giants, Cardinals and maybe 49ers could keep the Broncos out of the top five. Related Articles Broncos Briefs: After fine, Vic Fangio vows to be more aware of wearing mask

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Kiz: I’m no draftnik, but I love college football almost as much as cheeseburgers. From SEC Country to the Big Ten, what I see is most of the elite players projected to be available in the 2019 draft reside on the defensive side of the football. What’s more, I’m not yet sold on Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert, whether at No. 1 or No. 10 in the first round. Is there another QB worthy of a top-10 pick? Or should the Broncos already be thinking about taking a cornerback?

O’Halloran: Missouri’s Drew Lock and West Virginia’s Will Grier are two guys I’m following. Lock will go high because quarterbacks are always over-drafted. He is listed at 6-foot-3/226 pounds, has played in 46 games and thrown 90 touchdowns. His career completion percentage of 56.1 is a little worrisome. Grier (6-3/217) is intriguing because he’s a gunslinger. In the last two years, he has 62 touchdowns and 19 interceptions. This year, his completion rate is 69.7. Take … the … quarterback. The Broncos can then flip their high picks in rounds 2 and 4 to move up to late in the first to take a cornerback or offensive lineman.